A recent survey done by the secular think tank, the Pew Research group, found that only about 3% of all church sermons surveyed even mentioned the word sin. That percentage comes from analyzing nearly 50,000 sermons, delivered by over 6,000 U.S. churches over a multi-week period. Pew research also found that 61% of pastors use AI tools in their weekly sermons prep.

Majority of pastors are now using AI to prepare sermons as the pulpit is now embracing this technology. In fact, there is now a website specifically designed to lead pastors to use AI. It’s called AI for church leaders.com According to the 2025 State of AI in the Church Survey Report, conducted by Exponential, which is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose focus is to serve church planters, they found 64% of preaching pastors are using AI for their sermon prep.

Pastors need to be praying over, agonizing with the text, taking seriously the responsibility and privilege of delivering God’s word each week. Without such effort, the fruit of this becomes doctrinal dilution.

What does using AI for sermon prep and being silent on sin look like?

• The pulpit then “presents” messages that are careful to avoid anything that may be considered an “offensive” doctrine
• This leads to topical messages filled with self-help style sermons
• It leads to Scripture filtered through cultural acceptance
• These messages are designed to make sure it eliminates the fear of losing attendance or online engagement.

The impact on the congregation is:

• Weak growth in discipleship
• A steady stream of shallow faith
• Churches full of attenders but short on transformed believers

The danger in this trend of reliance on AI technology is that it forces churches to replacing spiritual disciplines with self-help theology.
Technology itself isn’t evil—but dependence without discernment is.

This structure creates risks such as:

• AI-assisted sermons without prayerful study
• Digital church replacing fellowship
• Short attention spans reshaping preaching
• Algorithms discipling people more than Scripture

When convenience replaces conviction, discipleship suffers.

• There is less Bible understanding
• Which leads to less prayer
• And creates less accountability

Prosperity, Consumerism, and Entertainment Christianity

This harms the church as:

• The Church becomes a product
• The Pastor becomes a performer
• The congregation becomes customers
• And growth measured by numbers, not obedience

2 Timothy 3:5 warns of this, “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

The fruit

• Entertainment replaces repentance
• Comfort supersedes the cross
• Success replaces faithfulness

The Church is then tempted to focus on being accepted rather than being faithful. When the fear of man replaces the fear of God, everything else follows. “Friendship with the world is enmity with God.” (James 4:4)

The greatest current threat to the Church is not persecution from outside, it is compromise and confusion from within, accelerated by technology and cultural pressure.

What Strengthens the Church Right Now

• Clear preaching of Scripture (including sin and repentance)
• Deep discipleship over shallow growth
• Courage over comfort
• Discernment with technology
• Unity in Christ, not culture
• Preparation, not panic

Let’s challenge churches and pastors to avoid the DANGER of building the church on what people WANT – not on the truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Marantha Lord Jesus