Ultimately, a pastor must ask himself and his elders: Is my use of GenAI ethical? Is it plagiarism? Is it stunting my growth or producing unintended consequences? Does it contribute to the dehumanization of the gathered assembly? Might it cause division? Those are the questions we must ask. Because no matter the tool, no matter the trend, we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to algorithms and foolishness in a technological age.

I recently learned of a pastor who was removed from his role after one of his elders discovered he wasn’t writing his own sermons. He had been downloading them from a “sermon supplier” website and preaching them as if they were his.

Even without the power of GenAI (or Generative Artificial Intelligence, such as ChatGPT), some pastors disregard morality for the sake of saving time. This is a real problem, even though it is rare. GenAI makes stealing sermons even easier.

Before I explain why you should limit your use of GenAI, I must admit I don’t wholly forbid it. When you start typing into Google’s search engine, you’re using GenAI. It’s not wrong to use technology to find what exact verse says “iron sharpens iron.” Likewise, it’s not wrong to use GenAI to correct typos, alliterate key points, or find related verses to your text. Personally, out of the current GenAI options, I prefer using Claude. My conscience allows me to use some GenAI. I use it almost daily.

But you should limit its use in sermon preparation for these four reasons.

1. Using GenAI is (Often) Plagiarism

Plagiarism is grounds for removal from the pastoral office. It breaks two of the Ten Commandments: stealing and coveting. Stealing includes taking something that belongs to your neighbour, and whether goats, apples, or intellectual creativity.

Coveting is wrongly desiring something that is not your own. You shall not covet the humor of Matt Chandler, the zeal of John Piper, the wisdom of Tim Keller, nor the fame of John Mark Comer. A sin like plagiarizing someone else’s sermon begins in the heart as covetousness. Pastor, you are known and loved by Christ, you have no need to impress your congregation by playing pretend.

2. Using GenAI Will Stunt Your Growth

The greatest calling of the pastor is not the delivery of a sermon but the development of character. You should not be a pastor unless you are virtuous and growing in virtue (see 1 Timothy 3 and the context surrounding Paul’s admonition to Timothy, “that all might see your progress” in 1 Timothy 4:15).

I fear too many pastors are caught up in questions of “what’s best?” instead of “what’s good?” It’s good to grow in your love and joy in your people, which develops as you write (cf. 1 John 1:4). Writing sermons forces you to consider your audience and write for them. It is an act of love. I tell students that using GenAI to write their papers is like going to a gym and bringing a robot to lift the weights. By using GenAI to write sermons, you bypass an opportunity to grow essential love muscles, including in your knowledge of God and your love of God’s people.

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