I doubt anyone sets out to build an athletic career that depends on performance-enhancing drugs. Yet an athlete who sets out to work hard, do his best, and play fair can, over time, become one who can’t accept his limits and wants to win at any cost. Eventually, what once would have seemed unthinkable begins to look like a good option.

Similarly, most men who go into ministry plan to prioritize preaching. But over time, the many other responsibilities that come with the job can shrink the hours available for sermon prep. Shortcuts can seem attractive. This is what AI seems to offer. But before you start using AI tools for ministry purposes, I recommend working through Noah Senthil’s “4 Questions Pastors Should Ask Before Using AI.”

Though I’ve often wished my pastor husband didn’t stay up until the wee hours of Sunday morning finishing sermons, I’m deeply grateful for the time he’s spent wrestling with Scripture. That wrestling has not only led to edifying sermons; it has shaped his life. He is a better pastor on hospital visits and in elder meetings because he wrestles with the Word. I believe that’s the way God intended it to be.