Let’s be honest – artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. AI has found a way to fit in almost every aspect of our lives. However, when it comes to church and AI, it tends to raise some eyebrows.
People often debate whether AI is ethical or creates a disconnect. The good news is that using AI in church isn’t about replacing spiritual guidance; it’s about enhancing the way we communicate God’s Word, using available resources to manage time better, organizing ministry work, and reaching people more effectively. Below, we’ll dive deeper into the question “Is it okay to use AI in church?” Let’s get started!
The Growing Role of AI in Everyday Ministry
AI has quietly become a behind-the-scenes sidekick for many pastors and church teams recently. According to Religion Unplugged, a 2025 study found that nearly half (45%) of church leaders currently use AI. This is almost an 80% increase from the 2024 study. This statistic shows that AI is growing in ministries, as folks are seeing the benefits it can bring. And it makes sense. AI can:
- Save hours of repetitive work.
- Generate discussion questions, devotionals, short sermon videos, or outlines.
- Support communication and outreach.
It’s important to keep in mind that when AI is used properly, it becomes a tool, not a replacement. Pastors will have more time dedicated to prayer, worship, and connecting.
Using AI Responsibly
According to Kenny Jahng from ChatGPT For Churches, “The core idea to keep in mind with responsible AI use in church is transparency and intentionality. People want to know you use these tools, but don’t let technology replace compassion or Spirit-led guidance.”
Like any powerful tool, AI should be used responsibly. Here’s how to use AI in ministry:
- Be transparent. Don’t be afraid to tell your team or congregation that you used an AI tool to assist with the process.
- Stay Spirit-led. AI can generate words, but save the compassion and emotion for you to fill in.
- Review and refine. When creating a sermon, you wouldn’t copy other pastors’ messages and repeat them word for word. This is the approach you should take with AI. The general rule with AI is to never generate something without reading and personalizing it. Make it your own and use it more as a guide.
- Keep your mission central. The goal isn’t to sound perfect, so make sure emotion is still behind it. Regardless of what you use AI for, don’t let it sound robotic or lack emotion.
Lean In To The Impact Of AI
When AI is used wisely by churches, it can open the door to different opportunities, possibilities, and connections.
- Smaller churches: AI eliminates the need to hire a media team since it’s simple to use.
- Larger ministries: They can streamline content creation. This way, you can focus more on community impact.
- Pastors under pressure: AI can take some tasks off your shoulders by creating daily devotionals, summaries, blogs, and short sermon videos without spending hours on end creating them.
In Conclusion
In the end, AI in church isn’t something to fear; it’s something to utilize. Like any tool, it’s all about how it’s used. The key is to use it responsibly. When we pair innovation with integrity, we open up the door to a world of possibilities.
That’s where Sermon Shots comes in. It’s designed for churches that want to save time without sacrificing authenticity. With Sermon Shots, you can repurpose sermons into short clips, summaries, devotionals, and study materials easily and within minutes. Sermon Shots helps you to do what your church has always done: share the Gospel in new ways, to new hearts, just with a more effective and organized process.
FAQs: AI and the Church
Q: Is using AI in church unbiblical?
A: No. Technology is considered neutral. It’s all about how we use it that matters.
Q: Can AI replace sermon writing or prayer?
A: No. AI can help organize your sermon or provide inspiration, but true preaching comes from the heart with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Q: How can pastors use AI wisely?
A: Use AI for administrative and creative support, but always make sure you review and personalize.
Q: What’s the biggest benefit of AI for churches?
A: Time is the biggest benefit of AI. Pastors will be able to spend less time editing and creating and dedicate more time to ministry.
