AI and the Pulpit
Technology has been a game-changer for sharing the Word of God. It has enabled us to reach more people, communicate in new and exciting ways, and help show the power and relevance of the Bible’s message. One of the most recent technological advancements that can positively impact the church is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) language models for sermon writing and preparation.
For those unfamiliar, AI language models are computer programs that can analyze massive amounts of data and generate written or spoken text that sounds just like human speech. This technology can make preparing sermons much easier for pastors and preachers, providing them with suggestions, outlines, and even complete sermons based on the topic of their choice.
Before serving as the President/Publisher of the AMEC Publishing House, I helped people to write sermons, letters, articles, and book chapters and to develop workshops and conferences. While my work doesn’t allow me to provide these services as much, I have spent much time researching and working with AI language models, and their potential is incredible.
While AI language models can be helpful, they also come with a fair share of ethical concerns that we, as Christian leaders, must consider. For one, we risk becoming overly reliant on AI language models and losing touch with the sermon preparation process. Sermon preparation is not just about generating the content but also about connecting with God and our congregation and delivering a message that speaks to their needs and concerns.
Another ethical concern is the risk of plagiarism. Since AI language models can generate content similar to current sermons, we must be cautious and ensure that our content is original and not a copy of someone else’s work. As Christian leaders, we must maintain our reputation and our church’s credibility; plagiarism is not the way to do it.
But, when used responsibly, AI language models can be an excellent tool for pastors and preachers. Here are some tips on how we can use AI language models responsibly and ethically:
- Use AI language models as a tool, not a sermon preparation replacement. It is essential to remember that seeking God’s guidance and inspiration is just as vital to sermon preparation as generating content.
- Ensure that our sermons retain our unique voice and style. Artificial Intelligence language models can help us generate ideas and content, but we must always use our own voice and style when delivering a sermon. Otherwise, we lose sincerity and authenticity.
- Take special care to avoid plagiarism. We must check our generated content for originality and avoid using content similar to existing sermons or other materials. We know there is nothing new under the sun, and preachers are famous for ‘appropriating’ material from the sermons of others, but integrity dictates citing sources responsibly.
- Use AI language models as a supplement to other resources. Preparing a sermon involves more than just generating content. We must also use other resources such as commentaries, prayer, and personal reflection to prepare our sermons.
AI language models are valuable tools for preparing sermons. However, we must use them ethically and responsibly not to undermine our spiritual practice and pursuit. We must intentionally maintain our credibility and uniqueness as Christian ministers. Using AI language models as a supplement to other resources and being careful to avoid plagiarism can save time and enhance the quality and relevance of our sermons.
