Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week.

Today, a very helpful guide on when and how to use AI in sermon preparation, why Gen Z is thought by many business leaders to be unhirable, how to handle difficult people, and the most commonly used and stolen PIN codes.

Should You Use AI In Sermon Prep?

Well, it depends.

Some of the early reactions to AI by church leaders were predictable and (at least a bit) laughable. Many ignored it or claimed it was from the devil.

But that was a few years ago, and now most of us are using it. But the real question is: should you use it for sermon prep?

This new paper from the Ethics and Religious Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention does a fairly decent job of framing the issues well, both partially and theologically.

My governing metaphor for AI is that it’s a great thought partner (I’m not sure the ERLC would agree) and a decent brainstorming tool and editor.

But I do agree that if the Word you’re preaching came from AI and not from God, you’re not actually preaching.

See what you think. Here’s a link to an article summarizing the report. Inside the article, you’ll find a link to the report itself. It’s well worth reading.

PS. I wrote this all by myself - Carey

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Is Gen Z Unhirable?

Some business leaders think so.

The consensus among the church leaders I know is that Gen Z as staff members and volunteers are either awesome or um, awful.

Business is a little less kind.

This report explains the gap between the expectations of Millennial and Gen X bosses of their Gen Z employees. It seems that there’s a significant gap in life skills and etiquette.

If you’re hiring or leading Gen Z, this is a great piece to remind you that mentoring and coaching are great ideas.

Using "Under Compulsion" When it Comes to Giving?

Can we please stop?

In this insightful post, Jim Sheppard challenges the common use of the phrase “under compulsion” when talking about giving. While often well-intended, this wording can make giving sound transactional instead of transformational.

Instead, he invites church leaders to use words that reflect joy, gratitude, and a healthy theology of giving.

By shifting how we talk about generosity, Jim reminds us that we strengthen trust, authenticity, and a culture where giving flows from the heart. It’s a thoughtful read for anyone seeking to inspire more meaningful and biblical generosity in their church or ministry.

Read Now

1,2,3,4 What’s Your Pin Code?

A list of the most used and most easily hacked PIN codes.

How are you doing on this list of the most common and most hacked PIN codes?

The most commonly used 20 codes account for 27% of all PIN codes. Crackable for sure.

Good to know I’m safe, for now. 5, 6, 7, 8…

Cheering for you,

Weekend Watching

Tim Timberlake

In a wide-ranging interview, Tim Timberlake talks about pastoral succession gone wrong, getting divorced in his twenties, what he learned about leading while bleeding, rebuilding momentum, and a lot more.