AI-Enhanced Sermon Preparation: A Practical Workflow

Monday morning arrives with the familiar question: what will I preach next Sunday? For many pastors, sermon preparation consumes 10-20 hours weekly—time that could also serve pastoral care, administration, and family. AI doesn’t replace the spiritual work of sermon preparation, but it can streamline the mechanical aspects, freeing you for deeper engagement with Scripture and congregation. Here’s a practical workflow that maintains theological integrity while maximizing efficiency.

Begin Monday with prayerful reading of your text, allowing the Spirit to speak before engaging any tools. This devotional reading grounds everything that follows. Then use AI for initial exploration: “I’m studying [passage] for a sermon. Provide historical context, word studies for key terms, and cultural background that would help modern readers understand the original meaning.” This request generates research that might take hours to compile manually.

Next, explore theological themes with this prompt: “Identify the main theological themes in [passage]. How have major theologians and commentators interpreted these themes? Include perspectives from Wesley, contemporary scholars, and diverse cultural viewpoints.” This broad theological survey helps you see beyond your usual interpretive patterns.

Connect Scripture to your specific context: “My congregation is facing [describe current situation]. How might [passage] speak to this situation? Suggest connections without forcing the text to say something it doesn’t.” This contextualization respects both scriptural authority and congregational needs.

Tuesday focuses on structure and flow. Use AI to generate multiple organizational options: “Suggest five different ways to structure a sermon on [passage] that moves from biblical text to life application. Include different homiletical approaches: expository, narrative, topical, verse-by-verse, and thematic.” Having options helps you choose what best serves your message and congregation.

Develop your chosen structure: “Using a [chosen style] approach, create a detailed outline for a 20-minute sermon on [passage] that includes: engaging introduction, three main points with biblical support, contemporary applications, and compelling conclusion.” This becomes your framework, not your final sermon.

Wednesday is illustration day. Request diverse illustrations: “Provide illustrations for [sermon theme] from these categories: historical events, contemporary news, nature/science, literature, movies/TV, sports, and everyday life. Include options appropriate for different age groups.” AI excels at finding connections you might miss.

Refine illustrations for your context: “I need an illustration about [specific point] that would resonate with [describe your community—rural/urban, age demographics, cultural background]. Avoid these overused examples: [list common illustrations].” Specific context produces relevant results.

Test theological accuracy: “Check this sermon outline for theological accuracy from a Wesleyan perspective: [paste outline]. Flag any statements that might be theologically problematic or need clarification.” This safeguard prevents doctrinal errors from slipping through.

Thursday involves crafting specific elements. Generate prayer options: “Write three different prayers of illumination for a sermon on [passage], each with a different tone: contemplative, celebratory, and challenging.” Having options allows Spirit-led selection Sunday morning.

Create responsive elements: “Suggest interactive elements for a sermon on [passage]: a call-and-response reading, a physical participation moment, a reflective question for silent consideration, and a communal affirmation.” Engagement increases retention and application.

Develop your introduction: “Create three different sermon introductions for [passage]: one starting with a story, one with a provocative question, and one with a current event connection. Each should be under 200 words and lead naturally to the scripture reading.” Test which resonates most with your preparation team.

Friday is for refinement and review. Check your language: “Review this sermon excerpt for accessibility. Flag any church jargon, complex theological terms needing explanation, or concepts that might confuse newcomers: [paste section].” Clear communication serves all hearers.

Ensure practical application: “My sermon on [passage] makes these points: [list main points]. Suggest specific, practical applications for each point that people could implement this week. Include options for different life situations: families, singles, youth, seniors.” Transformation requires concrete steps.

Polish transitions: “Here are my sermon’s main sections: [list sections]. Write smooth transitions between each section that maintain flow and build momentum toward the conclusion.” Good transitions keep listeners engaged throughout.

Saturday involves final preparation. Create worship integration: “Based on this sermon on [passage], suggest: a call to worship, congregational confession, assurance of pardon, and benediction that reinforce the message theme.” Unified worship enhances impact.

Generate discussion materials: “Create small group discussion questions for this sermon: [provide summary]. Include questions that move from observation to interpretation to application, suitable for groups with varying biblical knowledge.” Extended engagement deepens transformation.

Prepare social media extensions: “Create five social media posts that extend this sermon’s theme through the week: [provide theme and key verse]. Include scripture images, thought questions, and practical challenges.” Digital engagement continues the conversation.

Throughout this workflow, remember AI’s limitations. It cannot pray for your congregation or sense the Spirit’s leading. It doesn’t know who’s hurting in your pews or celebrating in your community. It can’t discern when to depart from your prepared message for a prophetic word. These irreducibly human and spiritual aspects remain your unique contribution.

Best practices for AI sermon assistance include always beginning with prayer and personal study, verifying every biblical reference and quote, maintaining your unique voice and preaching style, adapting all suggestions to your specific context, and reviewing everything for theological accuracy. Never use AI-generated content without careful review and personalization.

Track your time savings and reinvest them wisely. If AI saves five hours of sermon preparation, use that time for additional pastoral visits, deeper prayer and study, family and self-care, or developing lay leaders. The goal isn’t just efficiency but effectiveness in overall ministry.

Share your workflow with other pastors. What works in your context might help colleagues. What challenges you face might have solutions others discovered. This collaborative approach reflects our connectional heritage while improving preaching across the church.

This post was developed in collaboration with Claude (Anthropic) as part of a series exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and Wesleyan ministry.

Also in this series:

• The Grace That Goes Before: Why Wesleyan Theology Embraces Innovation
• From Field Preaching to AI: A Methodist History of Innovation
• The Quadrilateral Guide: Evaluating AI Through Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience
• Christian Perfection as Our Digital North Star
• Your First Steps with AI: Free Tools Every Pastor Should Try
• The Art of the Prompt: Speaking AI’s Language for Ministry