On The Rise: The latest on Christians, Pastors and AI, and how to get Banned From Flying United

Published about 11 hours ago • 4 min read

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

Today, Christians and pastors are embracing AI, and the younger you are, the more you worry about its threats. Plus, I give you my rule of thumb on how to know if you’re overusing AI in sermon prep. Also, the best book I’ve read all year (or in many years) and some encouraging news on speakerphone use in public.

What Christians (and Pastors) Think About AI Right Now

The younger you are, the more threatening it seems.

AI has become mainstream news, but what do the people in your church think about it? New Barna research shows that the younger you are, the more likely you are to think about the downsides of AI.

Pastors are also more concerned about the threats AI poses than Christians in general are, with 72% of pastors saying AI is a threat and 79% saying it’s biased.

The least worried about AI? Boomers, 73% of whom see AI as low risk and low opportunity.

Um….I’m not so sure about that.

You can check out all the results here.

Stop Playing Small (Fund the Future of Your Church)

Bold vision needs funding to fuel it. Here’s how.

When generosity stalls, the vision for your mission shrinks.

Fund the Future masterclass gives you a step-by-step system to break out of survival mode and build a culture of transformational generosity at your church.

You’ll hear from some of today’s sharpest minds:

Craig Groeschel—helps you think bigger and believe God for more.
Chris Hodges—breaks down how to cast vision and confidently invite investment.
Ashley Wooldridge—teaches the keys to making generosity part of your church’s DNA.
Dan Clark—shows you have to engage major donors.

These are real, actionable strategies you can put into practice as you work through the course.

So, if you’re tired of feeling awkward about funding your mission and are ready to lead boldly into the future, start the course today.

It’s included in your all-access membership. What are you waiting for?

Start Now

Meanwhile, 64% of Pastors Now Use AI For Sermon Prep

Here’s my rule of thumb on whether you’re overusing AI

Another study found that 64% of pastors are now using AI for sermon prep.

I think the question underneath the data is, Well, how exactly are you using AI?

From where I sit, if you’re using AI to write your sermon, you’re basically walking away from your calling. Part of being a pastor means you signed up for the hard work of wrestling with a text and with God on behalf of your church. It involves staring at a blank page and a blinking cursor.

Writing a great sermon is hard because it’s supposed to be hard.

To use AI to make your now-written-sermon better? No problem. But to use it as a replacement for the spiritual work you’re called to? That’s a no for me.

How can you tell if you’re overusing AI?

Simple: If you’re not comfortable sharing how you use AI, you’re probably overusing it.

When my new book on AI and the Future Church releases in September, I’ll share exactly how I used AI and, more importantly, how I didn’t.

Help Persecuted Christians in Nigeria Rebuild

Your gift provides real help where faith costs the most.

More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world, and millions have been pushed from their homes. When families arrive at displacement camps, they’re starting over with almost nothing—no clean water, no steady income, no clear way forward. Your support helps:

Provide clean drinking water through solar-powered boreholes and wells
Offer trauma care and practical support for survivors
Women and families rebuild sustainable livelihoods

Stand with your persecuted Church family in Nigeria today. Help them rebuild what violence tried to take.

Give Today

Book Recommendation

Insane for the Light by Ronald Rolheiser

A podcast alumni suggested I read this book. He was not wrong. Rolheiser tackles how to live the last third of your life well, to give both your life and your death away.

If you’re anywhere close to mid-life, read this book.

It will show you exactly how some people get bitter and broken as they age, and how others don’t.

I have more underlined passages than passages that aren't underlined.

While I don’t track with all of his theology, his insights on aging and spiritual formation are incredible. He’ll be on my podcast later this year. Stay tuned.

Check It Out

More Restaurants and Bars are Banning Phones

Maybe we’ll get rid of speakerphone, too.

In an encouraging trend, more restaurants and bars are banning phones. Not to pick on Boomers (although it seems like we’re doing that in this issue), the younger you are, the more likely it is that you completely disconnect from technology from time to time. Bravo.

Last month, it was encouraging to see that the Masters still has a no-phone policy. You get the trip of a lifetime to see the masters, and you can’t bring your phone. Which means you actually get to watch golf.

And in my favorite move of the year, United Airlines banned speakerphone use on all flights. You can actually be removed from the plane and permanently banned from flying United for using speakerphone.

The devil never rests. Inventing clamshell packaging and prompting people to use speakerphones in public are among his best moves.