Is it okay for Christians to use AI to write devotionals, sermons, or small group lessons and where does helpful become hollow?
In this episode of Rethink Revive, Pastor David Leake sits down with his friend Pastor Jordan Kolarik to tackle one of the most pressing questions facing the modern church: what happens when convenience quietly replaces conviction?
David and Jordan unpack how AI tools like ChatGPT are already being used by pastors and everyday Christians, in sometimes helpful, sometimes detrimental ways to genuine spiritual growth. They draw a clear line between using AI as a productivity tool and leaning on it as a substitute for time in Scripture, dependence on the Holy Spirit, and the kind of real discipleship that cannot be automated.
The conversation goes deeper than technology. It is really about what it means to be a genuine follower of Jesus in an age where it is easier than ever to look spiritual without actually being formed. David and Jordan call listeners back to analog discipleship; a slow, inconvenient, and deeply human process of growing in faith through real relationship with God and others.
Whether you are a pastor trying to figure out where to draw the line, or a believer who has wondered if scrolling through an AI devotional app counts as time with God, this episode gives you a framework for thinking Christianly about AI without fear or naivety.
Is it a sin for Christians to use AI for devotionals or sermon prep?
David and Jordan don't frame it as a sin issue but a formation issue. The question isn't whether AI is evil — it's whether using it is replacing the spiritual work that actually changes you. Outsourcing your devotional life to ChatGPT may produce content, but it skips the process God uses to shape you.
Can a pastor use AI to write sermons?
The episode addresses this directly. Using AI as a research or organizational tool is different from generating the sermon itself. A sermon is meant to come from a pastor's own walk with God and wrestle with Scripture — an AI-generated sermon may sound right but lacks the spiritual authority that comes from that process.
What does "fake church" or "plastic Christianity" mean?
It refers to a version of faith that looks the part externally but lacks genuine internal transformation. David and Jordan warn that AI makes it easier than ever to perform Christianity — polished content, curated answers, impressive-sounding theology — without the real work of discipleship underneath.
What is "analog discipleship" and why does it matter?
David and Jordan use this term to describe the kind of spiritual formation that can't be digitized — time in prayer, reading Scripture slowly, being known in a real community, wrestling with doubt. They argue this slow, inefficient process is exactly what God uses to build genuine faith.
How should Christians think about AI without being fearful or naive?
The episode encourages discernment over blanket rejection or uncritical adoption. AI is a tool — the question is whether you're using it or it's using you. Christians should ask whether a given use of AI is making them more dependent on God or less.