Well, it happened. On Sunday, June 10th, 2023, AI led a German Church service. They didn’t just use ChatGPT in sermon prep, it was used to prepare the entire service–responsible for 98% of the 40-minute ceremony. The experiment was orchestrated by a young theologian, Jonas Simmerleign, who felt the AI put together a “pretty solid service.”
Not everyone shared his enthusiasm. One attendee felt the service lacked something vital: “There was no heart and no soul.”
If you are a pastor, you keep watch over your congregation’s souls “as those who will give an account” (Heb 13:17), and you need to take this to heart: DO NOT DELIVER A SERMON WRITTEN BY AI. This is NOT the way.
At the same time, we can’t dismiss AI outright either. AI is here to stay, there’s no denying it. And I am 100% on board with leveraging the tools we have for the glory of God and the good of all peoples. But AI has no soul, it lacks the Holy Spirit, it does not know your people, it does not bear God’s image, and it certainly does not follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Regardless of how sophisticated AI sermons might become in the future, we cannot hand over the responsibility of shepherding God’s people.
So how should we use AI? Paul used every tool in his arsenal to advance the Kingdom of God, so that by every possible means he might save some (1 Cor 9:22). Look, at its core, AI isn’t about being the hero or the villain. It’s a tool, ethically as neutral as your everyday hammer or paintbrush. It’s the intent behind its use that defines its value (Prov 4:23).
Is it possible to integrate ChatGPT into sermon prep without compromising your duty to nourish the spiritual lives of your congregation? Absolutely, if you consider the parallel with traditional resources like theological commentaries or modern Bible software like Logos. These AI tools can serve in a similar role, functioning not as replacements, but as efficient means to access and process information. They serve to enhance, not usurp, your capabilities. Your fundamental role as a shepherd remains unchanged—you are entrusted with studying, praying, discerning, and guiding your congregation through God’s Word (2 Tim 2:15).