I believe sermon writing is a sacred task that flows from time in God’s Word and time on one’s knees. While tools like AI might help organize thoughts or gather references, they can’t replace the spiritual labor of studying Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit.
I’d be really concerned if AI started shaping the message more than Scripture and prayer do.
Technology can assist, but I don’t think it should ever replace a pastor’s words completely.
What do you all think?
Should pastors use AI to write sermons?
Absolutely not! Yes. I have a strong opinion on this. A pastor, preacher, or evangelist, not led by the Spirit, should in NO WAY be a pastor, preacher, or evangelist. The Word is alive.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
It is meant to connect to us all, but those who are called to teach it need to be in connection with it. Not the World.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63
Without the spirit, we cannot receive the total Holy Word of God. Without that living connection, we only see words on a page that make little to no sense. Joe Shmoe could tell AI to create a sermon on Baptism. It will search the internet, take whatever it finds, and formulate a message that may or may not be what God wanted him to actually teach.
If a pastor, preacher, or evangelist is not willing to spend time in the Word, in prayer, and in meditation on God’s Word, then why is he in the position? Money? A Job? One would have to question their authenticity.
There is not a single message that I have ever shared, written, given, what have you, over the years, that was not led by the Spirit. Most of the time, I learn as much if not more in the process.
Now?
Yes. I have no problem with that. Much like a search engine. Google and such. However?
Amen!
Peter
I don’t know @PeterC,
It seems if the congregation were made up of androids, man-machines, robots (and their kids, robits), animatrons, anthrobots, biomechanoids, Stepford wives, and R2D2 units, then it seems an AI generated homily might make perfect sense.
KP
A sermon is the result of a preacher studying the bible, reading commentaries etc, praying and thinking about what he has read.
A.I. can be used as a tool to assemble information, but unlike a person it does not respond to the influence of the holy Spirit.
Cut me some slack. You act like there is a demon behind every bush and that you alone possess discernment, while you sit in judgment over anyone who uses AI to advance serious study. That attitude is not spiritual insight, it is paranoia baptized as caution, and it deserves to be called out as hogwash.
So here is a straightforward assignment for you.
I have laid out a full morphological and syntactical analysis of 2 Corinthians 5 1 through 6, identifying verbal tense and aspect, participial function, case relationships, conjunction force, and lexical range. Nothing is devotional fluff, nothing is paraphrased, and nothing bypasses the Greek text. Just asking AI to exegete.
We knowG1492 G5758 V-RIA-1P Oidamen Οἴδαμεν forG1063 Conj gar γὰρ N1 thatG3754 Conj hoti ὅτι ifG1437 Conj ean ἐὰν -G3588 Art-NFS hē ἡ earthlyG1919 Adj-NFS epigeios ἐπίγειος of usG1473 PPro-G1P hēmōn ἡμῶν house,G3614 N-NFS oikia, οἰκία, theG3588 Art-GNS tou τοῦ tent,G4636 N-GNS skēnous, σκήνους, should be destroyed,G2647 G5686 V-ASP-3S katalythē, καταλυθῇ, a buildingG3619 N-AFS oikodomēn οἰκοδομὴν fromG1537 Prep ek ἐκ GodG2316 N-GMS Theou Θεοῦ we have,G2192 G5719 V-PIA-1P echomen, ἔχομεν, a houseG3614 N-AFS oikian οἰκίαν not made with hands,G886 Adj-AFS acheiropoiēton, ἀχειροποίητον, eternalG166 Adj-AFS aiōnion αἰώνιον inG1722 Prep en ἐν theG3588 Art-DMP tois τοῖς heavens.G3772 N-DMP ouranois. οὐρανοῖς.
2Co 5:2 AndG2532 Conj kai καὶ indeed,G1063 Conj gar, γὰρ, inG1722 Prep en ἐν thisG3778 DPro-DNS toutō τούτῳ we groan,G4727 G5719 V-PIA-1P stenazomen, στενάζομεν, theG3588 Art-ANS to τὸ dwellingG3613 N-ANS oikētērion οἰκητήριον of usG1473 PPro-G1P hēmōn ἡμῶν which [is]G3588 Art-ANS to τὸ fromG1537 Prep ex ἐξ heavenG3772 N-GMS ouranou οὐρανοῦ to be clothed withG1902 G5670 V-ANM ependysasthai ἐπενδύσασθαι longing.G1971 G5723 V-PPA-NMP epipothountes. ἐπιποθοῦντες.
2Co 5:3 IfG1487 Conj ei εἴ indeedG1065 Prtcl ge γε alsoG2532 Conj kai καὶ having been clothed,G1746 G5671 V-APM-NMP endysamenoi, ἐνδυσάμενοι, notG3756 Adv ou οὐ nakedG1131 Adj-NMP gymnoi γυμνοὶ we will be found.G2147 G5701 V-FIP-1P heurethēsometha. εὑρεθησόμεθα.
2Co 5:4 AndG2532 Conj kai καὶ for,G1063 Conj gar, γὰρ, -G3588 Art-NMP hoi οἱ beingG1510 V-PPA-NMP ontes ὄντες inG1722 Prep en ἐν theG3588 Art-DNS tō τῷ tent,G4636 N-DNS skēnei, σκήνει, we groan,G4727 G5719 V-PIA-1P stenazomen, στενάζομεν, being burdened,G916 G5746 V-PPM/P-NMP baroumenoi, βαρούμενοι, becauseG1909 Prep eph’ ἐφ’ thatG3739 RelPro-DNS hō ᾧ notG3756 Adv ou οὐ we do wishG2309 G5719 V-PIA-1P thelomen θέλομεν to be unclothedG1562 G5670 V-ANM ekdysasthai ἐκδύσασθαι butG235 Conj all’ ἀλλ’ to be clothed,G1902 G5670 V-ANM ependysasthai, ἐπενδύσασθαι, thatG2443 Conj hina ἵνα may be swallowed upG2666 G5686 V-ASP-3S katapothē καταποθῇ theG3588 Art-NNS to τὸ mortalG2349 Adj-NNS thnēton θνητὸν byG5259 Prep hypo ὑπὸ -G3588 Art-GFS tēs τῆς life.G2222 N-GFS zōēs. ζωῆς.
2Co 5:5 The [One]G3588 Art-NMS ho ὁ nowG1161 Conj de δὲ having preparedG2716 G5666 V-APM-NMS katergasamenos κατεργασάμενος usG1473 PPro-A1P hēmas ἡμᾶς forG1519 Prep eis εἰς veryG846 PPro-AN3S auto αὐτὸ thisG3778 DPro-ANS touto τοῦτο [is] God,G2316 N-NMS Theos, Θεός, -G3588 Art-NMS ho ὁ having givenG1325 G5631 V-APA-NMS dous δοὺς to usG1473 PPro-D1P hēmin ἡμῖν theG3588 Art-AMS ton τὸν pledgeG728 N-AMS arrabōna ἀρραβῶνα of theG3588 Art-GNS tou τοῦ Spirit,G4151 N-GNS Pneumatos, Πνεύματος,
2Co 5:6 being confidentG2292 G5723 V-PPA-NMP Tharrountes Θαρροῦντες thereforeG3767 Conj oun οὖν alwaysG3842 Adv pantote πάντοτε andG2532 Conj kai καὶ knowingG1492 G5761 V-RPA-NMP eidotes εἰδότες that,G3754 Conj hoti, ὅτι, being at homeG1736 G5723 V-PPA-NMP endēmountes ἐνδημοῦντες inG1722 Prep en ἐν theG3588 Art-DNS tō τῷ body,G4983 N-DNS sōmati, σώματι, we are absentG1553 G5719 V-PIA-1P ekdēmoumen ἐκδημοῦμεν fromG575 Prep apo ἀπὸ theG3588 Art-GMS tou τοῦ Lord;G2962 N-GMS Kyriou· Κυρίου·
You show me exactly where this analysis is wrong. Point to a verb that is misparsed, a participle that is mishandled, a preposition whose force is distorted, or a syntactical relationship that violates standard Koine usage. Do it from the text, not from suspicion about tools.
If you can demonstrate that this presentation [or rather, AI presentation] breaks Greek grammar, misrepresents Paul’s argument, or introduces theology not warranted by the syntax, I will put down my e Sword, Bob Utley, and my **confidence in using AI for study.**And my strong faithfulness in Christ Jesus, MY Savior, My great God and Savior.
But if your objection is simply that AI should not be able to handle the text this competently, then your issue is not with exegesis, not with doctrine, and not with faith in Christ Jesus crucified and risen, but with the evidence sitting in front of you.
The Greek still means what it means. Paul still says what he says. The resurrection still anchors the hope of this passage. Tools do not become unclean just because they expose weak criticism.
Don’t respond, just do what I ask you.
J.
As you wish, & “slack” is cut for you.
I’m Sorry, I forgot this attempt at humor might step on your toes. Not my intention.
No Response, as you requested.
KP
J.
Well that is very true. Along with a good’ol oil bath.
Peter
Hey brother @Johann
I’m not Kpuff, but let me clarify my position. I am not against AI as a research tool or a research assistant. I see no problem with using it as you described. My problem arises when a pastor, preacher, or evangelist, whatever, claims to be called or appointed to a position where they are supposedly teaching what they receive from God. They do not take the time to hear from Him, led by the Spirit or moved by the Word. Instead, they sit in their office and say something like “AI, write me a sermon on sin.”
The AI will print out a sermon based on those parameters. However, it is just going on based, albeit with perhaps greater detail than he could do; however, this is not being received from God, or led by the Spirit, or moved by the Word. It is simply words on paper. Read before a people, for the purpose of? Money? Fame? Convenience?
No one is saying that AI is not a powerful research tool. Like you pointed out.
However, is THAT the message God wanted taught this Sunday?
As for the robot thing, it was clearly a joke. Or at least that was the way I took it.
With love and respect,
Peter
No problemos brother @PeterC
J.
