Review of Pulpit AI (Beta)

The timing couldn’t have been worse. I had just heard the so-called “news” about an “AI-generated” so-called “worship service” in Germany. I was completely disgusted. The snippets of the sermon worsened things. Just self-salvation works theology from my view – all Law and no Gospel. 

Now, out of nowhere, my local Christian talk radio show interviews Michael Whittle of “PulpitAI.com”. Remembering the travesty from Germany, my first reactions were strong and negative, to put it mildly.

But for some reason, I kept listening and started to actually like what I heard. I liked it so much that I contacted the creator and, fortunately, became a beta tester for the PulpitAI Beta. So what changed my mind, and what has happened since?

Core Feature Of Pulpit AI

First, PulpitAI doesn’t write your sermon for you. It isn’t another quick fix for lazy preachers – we already have enough plagiarists. We don’t need God’s heralds mouthing words in sermons that may or may not be true. 

Instead, PulpitAI helps the preacher take Sunday’s sermon and, in minutes, create helpful products for the church to keep the sermon alive in the following days.

Repurposed Content From The Sermon

After uploading a sermon audio (MP3 for now, video later), the software automatically analyzes it and creates:

• Sermon Transcript  
• Two two-paragraph summaries
• Divide the sermon into “chapters” 
• An extensive keyword/hashtag list
• Study questions for personal use or sermon-based small group discussions
• Devotional thoughts  
• A social media post to go deeper into the sermon  
• A blog post
• An email recap for the church mailing list
• Key points 
• A list of highlights and “quotable quotes”

And if you don’t like the initial output, you can edit it or have it regenerate.

Additional Option For Repurposed Content

One amazing feature is the “Pulpit GPT” button next to each transcribed sermon. While PulpitAI tries to be as simple as possible by producing content from your sermon without prompts, this button lets the user generate additional content. 

Some users asked PulpitGPT to turn the sermon scripture into a rap song. You can also input scripture and ask it to create a song to a well-known hymn or tune. Whatever you try, PulpitGPT will do its best, and some of the output is pretty good. Not good enough?

I even tried asking it to provide a 500-word background study of 1 Corinthians 10:1-22 in an experienced pastor’s voice. This part of PulpitAI could write a Bible study or background for you if you need help producing materials for your congregation.

What else will PulpitAI do? That remains to be seen. 

But as-is, it quickly creates various assets from a sermon audio designed to extend the Sunday sermon. No learning curve for prompt writing. Just copy, paste into your word processor, and edit as needed. In minutes, you have the basic tools to keep that sermon alive in your congregation’s minds for a few more days with minimal work.

Pulpit AI Is Trained On Christian Content

Chatbots need training to sound human. It makes sense a chatbot for sermons needs “training” to sound Christian. 

Unlike other church-focused AI software solely tapping ChatGPT, Bard, or chatbots, PulpitAI creators have been syndicating Christian podcasts for years.  That’s why its proprietary training was so important. 

Pricing To Be Determined

Beta tester feedback seems very positive so far. The future pricing structure remains unknown. Nothing final yet, but it seems prices will be tiered – lower cost for churches only needing one sermon a week, while accommodating larger churches by charging proportionately more. Online, Michael Whittle has discussed a basic price of $20-29 per month. We’ll see on final pricing.

Can Any Pastor Use Pulpitai Out Of The Box? 

Yes and no. 

My hurdle was getting the sermon video into an audio file. That required:

1. Downloading the video from Facebook  
2. Converting the MP4 to an MP3
3. Editing the sermon audio 

I’d done this editing before, so it was just a small hassle. Ideally, a pastor could have someone do this weekly. I didn’t have that. 

Once you have the MP3, you’re minutes away from all the output described above. 

Dashboard:

Strategic Use Of Sermon-Based Content

Then the question is what to do with it? 

It’s not PulpitAI’s fault, but I wonder how many churches can use the output effectively. 

Fortunately, I’ve built up our Facebook page and group this past year. I wish I’d also built our email list. Live and learn.

Like me, you’ll probably have to keep building your online audience so PulpitAI’s weekly assets can be effectively rolled out. Thankfully you can build your social media and email list while maximizing PulpitAI. 

One way is to take sermon transcripts, edit them into a PDF, and offer them free to website visitors joining your email list. Voila! PulpitAI helps build that list.

Active Beta Testing Period

Are there PulpitAI glitches? Of course, that’s why they beta test! But some glitches are user error. 

Outputs Need Discernment Before Publishing

I said PulpitAI should be denominational/theologically specific. Why? 

For example, some Christians love to talk about the “power of faith”. I don’t. To me, faith has no power – it always seeks strength from its object, Jesus Christ. So PulpitAI often didn’t sound like me. Therefore, lots of editing can be required. Sometimes so much editing is needed that I wondered if it was worth it for me. For me, it could be almost as fast to create a study guide as I write my sermon and pull highlights before preaching. 

Other pastors love how PulpitAI talks just like them! That means almost no editing is needed. Perfect for them. You have to TEST to know.

Output:

Pulpit GPT:

Final Thoughts

Having tested PulpitAI for weeks, I believe ANY small to medium church should investigate this resource to better use the internet for member care, discipleship, and outreach. Ideally, every small congregation will have a social media team to amplify output, greatly increasing visibility and local impact. If they also use the assets for follow-up studies, devotions or prayer, PulpitAI will accomplish its mission – your church will too!  

So if you wonder, “Should I try PulpitAI?” Go for it! You need to know what’s possible and get experience reaching your congregation and community after Sunday’s sermon. PulpitAI can help you get started!

Chuck Huckaby is a pastor and writer.  He helps fellow small/medium church pastors learn from his social media and AI mistakes for outreach and mission.