Key Takeaways

• AI functions as a morally neutral tool that can be used wisely or poorly depending on the user
• The technology excels as a brainstorming partner and research assistant for sermon illustrations
• AI cannot replace prayer, meditation, or hearing from the Holy Spirit
• Custom AI prompts can generate diverse illustration ideas across multiple categories
• Pastors must guard against using AI as a shortcut that bypasses spiritual preparation
• AI can suggest avenues for original-language study, but claims must be checked against reliable scholarly sources

Understanding AI as a Ministry Tool

The conversation around artificial intelligence in church ministry continues to generate both excitement and concern among pastoral leaders. Many pastors find themselves caught between wanting to leverage new technology and fearing they might compromise the spiritual integrity of their message preparation.

Darrell compares AI to a familiar everyday tool. He compares AI to a brick, explaining that it is morally neutral.

“You can throw it through a windshield or you can use it to build an orphanage and the brick doesn’t care,” Stetler notes.

The analogy focuses on how we use the tool. Pastors still need to assess the accuracy of its output and take responsibility for what they preach.

This perspective liberates pastors to explore AI’s capabilities without unnecessary guilt while simultaneously calling them to use wisdom in their approach. The key lies in understanding both what AI can accomplish and what remains firmly outside its abilities.

What AI Cannot Do for Your Sermon

Before diving into the benefits of AI for sermon preparation, pastors need clear boundaries around the technology’s limitations. Stetler is emphatic about several things AI simply cannot accomplish.

“It can’t hear the Holy Spirit for you. It can’t discern where your people are at in your church and what they’re struggling with. It can’t have compassion. It can’t pray for you,” Stetler explains.

He recounts a humorous moment when an AI tool told him it was praying for him as he prepared to minister. His immediate response was direct and honest. “No you’re not,” he told the machine. This lighthearted example underscores a serious truth. AI lacks the spiritual capacity that makes pastoral ministry meaningful.

The pastor must remain the one who wrestles with Scripture, who carries the burdens of the congregation, and who seeks divine guidance for each message. These elements form the irreplaceable core of authentic preaching that no algorithm can replicate.

Leveraging AI as Your Research Assistant

Where AI truly shines is in its role as a tireless research assistant. Stetler describes his approach as treating AI like a capable helper standing beside him in his office. If he needed illustrations on the topic of temptation, he would want that assistant to find quality options and bring them for his review.

“And then I decide which one connects with my congregation best,” Stetler says.

This workflow keeps the pastor in the driver’s seat while benefiting from AI’s ability to quickly gather and organize information.

The technology proves particularly valuable for brainstorming. Stetler calls it a spectacular brainstorming partner that can generate analogies, metaphors, and illustrations far faster than manual searching. In the past, he actually hired an administrative assistant for this work, but found that AI performs even better when prompted correctly.

Building Custom AI Tools for Ministry

Stetler took his AI usage to the next level by creating a custom AI specifically designed for sermon illustrations. His frustration with generic results led him to develop a more sophisticated approach.

“I asked it, I want an illustration on whatever topic I was preaching that week and it gave me one. And it was like, ‘Nah,'” Stetler recalls.

After cycling through multiple unsatisfactory options, he realized he needed AI to brainstorm rather than select for him.

His custom AI includes instructions to provide two bullet point examples of possible illustrations from twenty different areas. These categories span metaphors, history, science, art, music, literature, movies, sports, court cases, and numerous other domains. This approach yields approximately forty ideas that he can quickly scan before asking for deeper exploration of promising options.

The result transforms sermon preparation from hunting for that perfect illustration to selecting from a curated menu of possibilities. Stetler even generates images for his PowerPoint presentations using these tools, further streamlining his workflow.

Protecting the Sacred Space of Meditation

Despite his enthusiasm for AI tools, Stetler issues a strong caution about maintaining spiritual disciplines. The danger lies in allowing technology to replace the essential work of meditation and prayer.

“Meditation cannot be rushed and meditation is something I must do. I need to know how the truth hits me before I let it hit the hearts of my people,” Stetler emphasizes.

He warns against the temptation to rush through preparation simply because AI makes it possible. A pastor could prepare a quality three-point outline in fifteen minutes using Claude or ChatGPT, but this approach misses the point entirely. The goal is not efficiency for its own sake but rather deeper engagement with Scripture.

Stetler describes the pastor’s role this way.

“The pastor is the lead rejoicer in the word of God. And an AI cannot do that for you. You must lead your people into rejoicing in what God has said.”

This perspective positions AI as a tool that should free pastors to spend more time in meditation, not less. When the research burden decreases, the opportunity for spiritual depth increases.

Unlocking Biblical Insights Through AI

One surprising benefit Stetler has experienced involves original language study. AI tools can suggest questions and possible connections for word studies. Check definitions, usage and conclusions against the biblical text, a reliable lexicon and trusted commentaries before using them in a sermon.

He shares a recent example involving the Greek word koinonia, typically translated as communion, sharing, or fellowship. By asking AI to explore this word’s usage across Scripture, he uncovered relationships between different applications of the term that he had never noticed before.

This insight enriched his understanding of Christian community. Believers from different nations and opposite sides of the globe share something eternal through Christ.

“What we share in the communion of Christ and that we share in his body and blood and we share in his presence and in his spirit, those things are deeper than the superficial things that the world points to,” Stetler reflects.

Such moments demonstrate AI’s potential to serve genuine spiritual discovery rather than replacing it.

Moving Forward with Wisdom

For pastors considering AI tools, Stetler has developed a video course that addresses both the opportunities and the pitfalls. His curriculum covers why AI is a legitimate tool, the dangers and ethical considerations, and practical instruction on effective prompting.

The approach reflects a balanced methodology that church leaders would do well to adopt. Embrace the technology’s capabilities while establishing clear guardrails. Use AI to enhance preparation time while protecting the sacred disciplines of prayer and meditation. Let the tool serve your ministry without allowing it to define your ministry.

As Stetler summarizes, if AI helps pastors communicate truth more effectively, that is cause for gratitude. But if it becomes something that makes us lazy or leads us to take shortcuts, we have a problem. The choice belongs to each pastor who picks up this powerful new tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is using AI for sermon preparation considered cheating?
Using AI as a research assistant is no different from using commentaries, concordances, or hiring staff to help with preparation. The key is ensuring you personally engage with Scripture through prayer and meditation rather than simply copying AI-generated content.

What tasks should pastors never delegate to AI?
Prayer, meditation on Scripture, discerning the needs of your congregation, and listening to the Holy Spirit must remain entirely within the pastor’s responsibility. These spiritual disciplines cannot be automated or outsourced.

How can I start using AI for sermon illustrations?
Begin by asking AI tools to brainstorm multiple illustration options across different categories such as history, sports, science, and literature. Review the suggestions and select those that best connect with your specific congregation.

Will AI replace the need for pastors to study original languages?
AI can assist with word studies and provide quick access to Greek and Hebrew definitions, but it works best as a supplement to formal training rather than a replacement. Pastors should verify AI-generated language insights against trusted scholarly sources. Explore my recommended preaching resources for pastors.

How much time should pastors still spend in traditional sermon preparation?
The time saved through AI research should be reinvested in prayer, meditation, and spiritual preparation. My weekly rhythm for sermon preparation and ministry offers a practical example. The goal is deeper engagement with Scripture, not faster sermon production.

ABOUT DARRELL STETLER

Darrell Stetler II creates discipleship training for pastors, and discipleship pathways for new Christians. He has served as Pastor at a Bible Methodist Church in Oklahoma City for over 20 years, and is raising 7 children to love Jesus. You can follow him on X(Twitter), or on Facebook.