Art Not Science

 

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Preparing a sermon is not a science, it is an art. And art takes time, space, preparation, contemplation, creativity, care, passion, hard work, and a measure of the artists personality as well, all reliant on Scripture and the Spirit's guidance.

I don't fear the rise of AI produced sermons, because AI cannot really produce art, it can only mimic it. It can only mix and match the work done by others. This will most definitely replace the preachers whose works are not their own thoughts, work or creation, but are just simulacrums of other's work based on best selling books, or other preachers preprepared sermon series and other peoples notes. It will replace the mass-produced sermons of the mega-church preachers, that preach according to a set plan and the rhythm of the events on the calendar (mother's day, father's day, valentines day, etc, etc). 

But it will not be able to replace the work of the Spirit through gifted individuals who treat their sermon preparation time as preparing a piece of truthful art to bring the word of God alive. This takes soul, and AI has no soul.