Should Pastors Use AI to Write Sermons?

In the rapidly advancing digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) has made its way into nearly every aspect of life, including ministry. One of the most debated questions among church leaders today is whether pastors should use AI to assist in writing sermons. The answer is not a simple yes or no but rather a nuanced “Yes, but…” Pastors can certainly leverage AI as a tool in sermon preparation, but they must do so with intentionality, theological discernment, and a commitment to spiritual formation.

Over the past several months, I have actively used large language models (LLMs) based on generative AI, specifically designed for natural language processing (NLP), to help craft my sermons.  Practically speaking, AI has helped me to reduce my writing time by 87.5%.  That is valuable time that I can now use to serve the people of God further. 

AI can be a powerful assistant, but it should never replace the pastor’s personal engagement with Scripture, prayer, and the congregation. If pastors are to use AI effectively, I would urge them to follow a few critical guidelines:

1. They need to be spiritually formed first.
2. They must be intentional about how they frame AI prompts.
3. They need to edit AI-generated content for theological and factual accuracy and contextual appropriateness.
4. They must ensure the sermon reflects their unique voice.
5. They can improve AI outputs by feeding it their past sermons or written works.

Considering these principles, let’s explore why and how pastors can use AI in sermon preparation while maintaining their spiritual integrity.

Spiritual Formation Comes First

A key element of any sermon is the spiritual life of the preacher. AI may assist in organizing thoughts or offering insights, but it cannot replace the deep work of a spiritually formed pastor who is called to shepherd God’s people.

Preaching is not just about delivering words; it is a sacred act that requires discernment, prayer, and a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit.  If a pastor lacks a vibrant prayer life or theological grounding, AI will only amplify that deficiency. A sermon should not just be informative but also transformative, carrying the weight of divine truth shaped by the preacher’s walk with God.

For this reason, pastors should not lean on AI as a crutch but rather as a tool that supports their spiritual work. Before turning to AI, I encourage pastors to:

• Spend time in prayer & meditation while in exposition the Scripture passage.
• Seek personal illumination from the Holy Spirit.
• Reflect on the specific needs of their congregation.
• Be deeply formed by biblical theology to filter AI’s suggestions through a biblical lens.

AI should enter the picture as an aid rather than a substitute for divine guidance only after engaging in these practices.

Framing AI Prompts with Intentionality

AI-generated sermons are only as good as the prompts given to them. Just as a skilled craftsman carefully selects his tools, a pastor must be deliberate and precise when asking AI for assistance.

When using AI, pastors should avoid vague prompts like: “Write a sermon on faith.”

Instead, they should craft intentional prompts that align with their spiritual convictions and pastoral context. For example:
“Generate a sermon outline on Hebrews 11 that explores how biblical faith differs from cultural optimism. Use an expository approach with applications for a congregation struggling with doubt.”

Even better, pastors can break down the sermon into key components:
“Provide a historical background for Hebrews 11:1-6, including insights from biblical scholarship.”
“Suggest illustrations for explaining faith using examples from church history.”

By structuring AI prompts with clarity and purpose, pastors can receive more theologically sound and relevant material rather than generic or potentially misleading responses.

Editing for Theological Accuracy and Contextual Relevance

One of the greatest risks of AI-generated sermons is theological inaccuracy. As far as we know, AI does not yet possess a spiritual conscience; it merely synthesizes information from various sources. As a result, it can sometimes produce doctrinally unsound, out-of-context, or even misguided content.

For instance, an AI-generated sermon on grace might pull from secular self-help ideas rather than biblical theology. It may fail to distinguish between cheap grace and costly grace (as outlined by Dietrich Bonhoeffer) or might misinterpret key doctrinal points.

• This is why editing is non-negotiable. After generating content, pastors must:
  Compare AI’s theological insights with Scripture to ensure fidelity to biblical truth.
• Filter AI’s responses through their doctrinal framework (e.g., Reformed, Wesleyan, Pentecostal, etc.).
• Adapt sermon applications to the specific cultural and spiritual needs of their congregation.

Moreover, AI-generated sermons may lack emotional intelligence—the ability to apply biblical truth to real-life struggles with pastoral sensitivity. A good preacher ensures the message resonates with real people in the pews rather than coming across as a theological lecture detached from lived experience.

Making the Sermon Your Own

A sermon is not just an academic exercise; it is a personalized proclamation of divine truth. While AI can provide a structure, pastors must ensure the sermon reflects their heart in Christ. 

A pastor’s unique voice—shaped by their spiritual journey, personality, and preaching style—is essential in delivering an impactful sermon. Current AI tends to generate polished but generic content that lacks the warmth and authenticity of a human preacher.

To personalize an AI-assisted sermon, pastors should:

• Rewrite sections in their own tone and manner of speaking.
• Infuse personal stories and testimonies that AI cannot provide.
• Speak with conviction, not just recite information.

A congregation can tell when a sermon comes from the heart rather than from an algorithm. AI may provide a draft, but it is the pastor’s role to breathe life into it through authentic preaching.

Improving AI’s Output with Previous Sermons and Writings

One way pastors can make AI more useful is by training it to reflect their theological voice. Many AI tools allow users to input past sermons or written works, enabling the AI to generate content that is more aligned with their preaching style and doctrinal stance.

Ways to do this include:

• Feeding AI past sermon transcripts so it can recognize patterns in theological emphasis.
•  Pointing AI to personal blogs or church articles to maintain consistency in voice.
• Refining AI responses over time by correcting doctrinal errors and refining theological depth.

By guiding AI with their own material and finding their own voice, pastors can increase the relevance and reliability of AI-assisted sermon preparation.  

Conclusion: AI as a Tool, Not a Substitute for the Spirit

So, should pastors use AI to write sermons? Yes—but with caution and intentionality. AI can be a valuable assistant in research, organization, and ideation, but it should never replace the pastor’s spiritual formation, theological discernment, and personal engagement with God’s Word.

Pastors must:

• Be spiritually formed first before relying on AI.
• Frame prompts intentionally to receive meaningful content.
• Edit rigorously for theological accuracy and contextual appropriateness.
• Ensure the sermon reflects their personal voice.
• Train AI with past sermons for better consistency.

Ultimately, AI is a tool—much like commentaries, Bible software (that is AI Driven), and research aids—but the heart of preaching remains a Spirit-led, deeply personal act of proclaiming God’s truth. Technology may evolve, but the need for pastoral wisdom, biblical integrity, and authentic preaching will never change.

As pastors navigate this new frontier, they must remember that current AI can generate words, but only the Holy Spirit can bring life.