TL;DR: More pastors are starting their day with AI as a thinking partner — using it to spark ideas, refine sermons, and sharpen leadership decisions before the workday begins.
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The Sticky Note Problem Every Pastor Faces
“If short-term memories are sticky notes on a fridge, mine don’t have any adhesive,” admits Pastor Nick Smith. “I’ll mentally jot something down, stick it on my brain’s fridge, and—poof—it’s gone.”
His solution? A morning ritual that’s transforming how he does ministry: “Now, as I brew my coffee each morning, I have a chat with AI. I set reminders, create tasks, and organize my thoughts, constantly checking back to stay on track throughout my day.”
Smith’s candid admission opens a window into a larger shift happening in churches across the country, where AI is amplifying pastoral impact.
The Ezekiel Principle: Where AI Must Stop
Before diving deeper into AI’s possibilities, Smith draws a critical boundary using biblical wisdom:
“Take Ezekiel, for example—God calls him to deliver messages to Israel, but first, He tells him to eat the words of the scroll, let them fill his stomach, and then go speak. Delivering God’s Word to His people should be no different. Pastors must seek God, be filled with His Word, and only share the message He has for them.”
His stance on AI and preaching? Clear and uncompromising: “While the technology is more than capable of crafting impressive sermons (it even mimics the pastor’s favorite style, like alliterations!), I don’t believe that part of ministry should be outsourced to AI.”
But then comes the practical wisdom: “Does this mean AI can’t be a helpful tool in sermon prep? Not at all. But never let it replace the act of going to our Heavenly Father for the daily bread He provides.”
The Blind Spot Costing You Hours Every Week
Preston Pope, Co-Founder of TAPOS.app, identifies a critical inefficiency plaguing most churches:
“A major blind spot for many pastors is the assumption that the tools they’re using are already working efficiently together. In reality, most church tech tools operate in silos—they don’t integrate well, and that creates a gap in workflow and communication.”
The result? “Pastors often end up manually bridging these gaps with repetitive clicks, uploads, and administrative tasks that could be fully automated.”
The $50,000 Question: What Happens to Your Sermons After Sunday?
Pope raises a provocative point about the untapped value sitting in most pastors’ digital archives:
“Five years from now, I think many pastors will wish they had started using AI to preserve, organize, and multiply their wisdom sooner. So much valuable content—sermons, teachings, study notes—gets created and then quietly buried in digital folders or forgotten drives.”
The opportunity? “AI can transform that into living, searchable, interactive resources that continue to disciple people long after Sunday morning.”
The Digital Table: A Beautiful Ministry Metaphor
Smith offers a compelling vision for how technology can enhance authentic ministry:
“I love how often Jesus’ ministry took place around a table. A table is where people are treated as equals—a space to ask questions, make eye contact, be present, and speak freely. It fosters intimacy in conversation.”
His application? “TAPOS is that digital table, giving us access to decades of wisdom that points us back to Jesus. And if a tool can point us to Jesus, then He will grow us.”
The One Question That Changes Everything
Before adopting any new technology, Pope suggests pastors ask a transformative question:
“How does this help not only me and my team, but also my congregation?”
He explains: “Too often, digital tools are evaluated only for how they reduce admin work or make internal processes smoother. That matters—but it’s not the full picture. The real value of any church tech should be measured by its impact on spiritual growth and engagement.”
Staying Grounded in a World That Moves at Code Speed
In the fast-paced tech world, spiritual disciplines become more crucial. Pope shares his personal anchor:
“The biggest anchor for me is abiding in Christ. In a world that moves at the speed of code—full of endless decisions, opportunities, and pressure—it’s incredibly easy to become overwhelmed. But I’ve learned that if I try to carry it all in my own strength, it won’t just wear me out—it will fail.”
Smith emphasizes two specific disciplines that become essential in an AI-shaped world:
“Prayer and Sabbath. These two things go hand in hand with one another.” Drawing from Eugene Peterson’s “Working the Angles,” he notes: “Prayer is an act in which I bring myself to attention before God. Prayer is the thing that gives everything else its shape, place, and purpose.”
On Sabbath: “Sabbath is a necessity, to take a rest from all AI can do, how efficient it can make us, and to simply rest in who God is.”
The S.E.N.D. Framework for Churches Ready to Start
For churches wanting to explore AI without fear, Smith points to the S.E.N.D. Framework:
- SEED – Choose your trusted sources
- ENGAGE – Create discipleship materials within the guardrails of the church
- NURTURE – Spiritually reflect on the questions asked
- DISCIPLE – Allow the Word of God to grow and equip you
“TAPOS was built to be a church’s first, safe, and trusted step into AI,” Smith explains. “It’s safe because we have put strict guardrails to keep you from driving off into the ditch of AI uses. TAPOS is trusted because it’s filtered through sermons of people you ALREADY trust.”
The Wisdom of John Lennox
Smith shares influence from an unexpected voice: “I’ve been listening to Professor John Lennox for years, and I’ve really enjoyed his insights.”
Two key takeaways shape Smith’s approach: “First, he encourages us as Christians to lean into—rather than shy away from—the debate surrounding faith and technology. Second, he recognizes that technology amplifies both the good and the evil in humanity, but ultimately, it’s the user who bears the responsibility.”
What Pastors Will Wish They’d Started Doing
Pope’s prediction for pastoral regrets five years from now extends beyond just archiving sermons:
“I also think they’ll regret not using AI to automate the administrative burdens that quietly eat up their time—things like follow-up content, email responses, and resource generation. Ultimately, pastors will wish they had embraced AI not as a threat, but as a tool for deeper connection and more faithful stewardship of their calling.”
The Bottom Line: It’s About People, Not Process
Throughout the interview, both Smith and Pope return to a central theme: AI in ministry serves to create space for what matters most.
As Pope puts it: “TAPOS is designed and continually being built to help unify these disconnected systems, streamlining the pastoral workflow and empowering leaders to focus more on people and less on process.”
Or in Smith’s words: “TAPOS is about discipleship, not just ticking off tasks on a checklist. Discipleship takes time—it involves wrestling with the Word, taking hard looks in the mirror, and letting the Spirit speak deep within us.”
Your Next Step
The message from these ministry leaders is clear: AI is here to amplify pastoral ministry. Like any tool, its value depends entirely on how it’s used.
Start with the question Pope suggests: How will this help your congregation and your schedule?
Remember Smith’s Ezekiel principle: Let AI assist your preparation while maintaining your time with God.
And see technology as Smith does: as a digital table where discipleship can happen throughout the week, extending beyond Sunday morning.
Because at the end of the day, whether you’re brewing coffee with your AI assistant or preparing next Sunday’s sermon, the goal remains unchanged: pointing people to Jesus.
