This month, we interviewed Daniel Jackson, a Managing Director in our Houston office and a bi-vocational pastor, to explore the intersection of his technology expertise and ministry interests. In this article, Daniel shares his insights on leading his church and preparing sermons while addressing modern AI concerns. 

Why Should Pastors Be Researching AI Tools?

1. Improve social engagement.

2. Create direct and concise communication. 

3. To reach a broader audience. 

4. Aid in the enrichment of people’s comprehension. 

Utilizing AI tools to streamline the sermon process and identify the focus of a sermon can significantly enhance its effectiveness. These AI tools help organize the sermon’s topics and capture and highlight the core message, improving clarity and impact. 

The following AI tools assist in structuring the sermon’s content by breaking it down into manageable segments. These tools can analyze scripture, commentaries, and other resources to identify key themes and relevant illustrations that support the message’s objectives. These AI tools can also help refine language and tone, track audience engagement metrics, and organize and present sermon topics more clearly. These benefits assist the pastor in delivering the core message more effectively. 

Here are a few AI Tools Every Pastor Should know: 

1. Invideo.io

2. Lumen5

3. Opus Clip

4. Tengr.ai

5. Sermon Spark

InVideo.io is a user-friendly online video editing platform that allows users to create professional-quality videos easily.  

Lumen5 is an AI-powered video creation platform designed to help users transform text content into engaging videos. 

Invideo.io and Lumen5 are AI tools designed to create videos from a prompt or script. For instance, if your sermon outlines three key points, these AI tools can generate a video incorporating your examples. 

 Benefit: It enables anyone, even those without creative or digital skills, to generate compelling content from a sermon topic that appeals to modern viewers.

Opus Clip is an advanced AI platform that generates high-quality, natural-sounding speech. 

Benefit: Pastors can create short highlight videos by selecting specific time segments from their existing streaming content. For example, they can transform last week’s message from YouTube into a 30-second video that emphasizes key points and includes captions. 

Tengr.ai is an innovative AI platform that utilizes advanced AU technology to create customized, engaging visuals tailored to the ministry’s unique needs.  

Benefit: Specializes in producing high-quality graphics and is completely free, making it ideal for presentations and displays. For example, you could use it to bring your biblical imagination to life by creating an illustration of Zacchaeus climbing a tree. This tool transforms your ideas into vivid visuals. 

Sermon Spark is an AI-powered tool designed to help ministry leaders create compelling and insightful sermons. 

Benefit: This free AI service offers 500 credits per person, including access to Research, Writing, and Reach. This AI tool helps connect and develop sermon ideas by providing historical verse context, comparing related verses, and finding relevant news articles and quotes. It also generates sermon titles, composes sermon content, and creates metaphors for relatability. Additionally, it aids in crafting engaging social media posts, discussion questions, sermon summaries, and devotional series. 

What are the Ethics behind using AI in the Church?  

Pastors should be open to fostering engagement in a digital setting. However, regarding AI tools such as Sermon Spark, we must be mindful only to use AI to generate related scriptures and ideas and not allow AI tools to create the sermon itself.

Ultimately, AI is just a machine; it lacks feeling, compassion, emotions, and, most importantly, the Holy Spirit. As a result, it cannot receive supernatural revelation and should only be used as a tool rather than as a replacement for the work of Spirit-inspired preaching. 

Should Pastors Be Cautious of using AI in the Church? 

We must remain vigilant in an era when digital pastors are becoming a reality. We must recognize that while the digital age is here to stay, AI is only as reliable as the data it has been trained on. If the data is secular, it cannot effectively preach Scripture.

Also, the output will be affected if that data is incomplete or slanted in a specific direction. Let us be mindful to use these AI tools only for what they are suitable for–to aid in making ministry more efficient and effective.

As we navigate the intersection of AI and ministry, it is critical that pastors and church staff exercise discernment in their use of AI technology. While these tools offer valuable assistance, they must be used with a clear understanding of their limitations.

By using AI with good judgment and keeping it as a tool rather than a substitute, we can enhance our ministry without compromising the authenticity and sacredness of our message. Ultimately, we must remain committed to the heartfelt delivery of truth and ensure that our technology serves to support, not overshadow.