10 Objections Pastors Have to Using AI for Sermon Prep — And Why They’re Missing Out

I’ve been pastoring for over 20 years. I’ve preached hundreds of sermons, built outreach ministries, raised a family of seven, and discipled new believers. I know firsthand what it’s like to be pressed for time during sermon prep—especially as a small church pastor who wears every hat in the building.

That’s why I started experimenting with AI tools about a year ago. I wasn’t trying to cut corners. I just wanted to stop spending hours looking for illustrations or cross-referencing a Greek word across three commentaries while a hospital visit waited.

But I noticed something strange.

When I talked to other pastors about AI, I heard the same pushback over and over again. They had concerns. Real ones. Concerns I shared at first.

Eventually, I came to the conclusion that you can use AI ethically. But you're right to have concerns! The best thing? To talk about them head on.

So in this post, I want to walk through 10 of the most common objections pastors have to using AI in sermon prep—and show you how it can actually be a tool for faithfulness, not compromise.

Objection #1: “AI is just a crutch for lazy pastors.”

Let’s be honest: lazy pastors don’t need AI to cut corners—they already do. But faithful pastors are drowning in responsibilities.

AI can’t preach the Word for you, but it can eliminate busywork and give you back time for prayer, people, and personal devotion. It’s not a crutch. It’s a tool.

2. “AI can’t be trusted with theology.”

You’re right—it has no spiritual discernment. But neither does Google, or a concordance, or a book. You still have to test everything against the Word.

That’s why I don’t teach pastors to trust AI—I teach them to use it strategically, like a fast research assistant.

3. “It feels like plagiarism.”

If you’re copying and pasting entire sermons and preaching them verbatim... yep, that’s plagiarism.

But using AI to brainstorm a sermon series, generate 30 sermon illustrations in 30 seconds, or summarize your notes for a family devotional? That’s resourceful, not dishonest.

4. “AI can’t hear the Holy Spirit.”

Correct. And it never will.

But AI also doesn’t keep you from hearing Him. In fact, when you’re not bogged down with formatting, image creation, or endless quote searching... you might just hear Him more clearly.

5. “It feels like cheating.”

Cheating is when you pretend someone else’s work is your own.Stewardship is when you use tools to maximize your ministry.

Jesus told stories. Paul quoted Greek poets. I’ve used commentaries, Google, Evernote, and now... AI. If it helps me preach the Word with clarity and conviction, and I stay faithful to the Gospel—it’s not cheating.

6. “I’m not a tech person.”

This is a big one. But good news: you don’t have to be.

In my course How Pastors Can Use AI for Sermon Prep (Without Selling Out or Cheating), I walk you through every step with screen recordings and simple copy/paste prompts.

If you can use a smartphone, you can use this.

7. “I don’t know what to type into it.”

That’s what the course is for. You get cut-and-paste prompt templates for:

• Sermon illustrations

• Word studies

• Family discussion guides

• Coloring pages for kids

• Teen small group questions

• Social media content

• Greek & Hebrew insights

• ...and more

You don’t have to guess. Just paste and go.

8. “I don’t want my sermon to sound robotic.”

Me neither! Please don't!

That’s why I recommend you learn how to adapt AI content to your voice, your context, your people. AI doesn’t preach, and it doesn't know your people. You do.

9. “This is for big churches with staff.”

Wrong again.

I built this for pastors like me—the solo guys, the small-church shepherds, the bi-vocational warriors who are tired of working 60-hour weeks and still missing dinner.

This is about saving time without sacrificing depth.

10. “I don’t want to sell out.”

Same here.

That’s why the course I created is built on a biblical foundation, warns about ethical pitfalls, and reminds you that AI is a tool, not a teacher.

You’re still the one who hears from God. You’re still the one who preaches the Word.This just helps you do it more efficiently.

Final Thoughts: Why I Created This Course

When I launched the Sermon Illustrator tool, I heard from so many pastors who loved the idea—but said:

So I built this course:🎓 How Pastors Can Use AI for Sermon Prep (Without Selling Out or Cheating)

✅ It includes 6 video lessons

✅ A 40-page workbook

✅ Tutorials for creating sermon illustrations, visuals, quotes, outlines, and more

✅ Lifetime access to the Sermon Illustrator

✅ All for just $27

👉 Check it out at ai.newstartdiscipleship.com

If you’re a pastor who wants to preach better, stay faithful, and get some help along the way—this is for you.