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On The Rise: Can AI sin? Plus 12 lessons from a young church leader + How the mighty fall
Published 4 days ago • 3 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, a thought-provoking piece from someone who doesn't really go to church about why the word “sin” needs to enter the chat on artificial intelligence. Plus 12 lessons from a Millennial church leader after 12 years. How the mighty fall, and a thought about selling your soul. Note: you should probably think twice.
Can AI Sin? (Well, Its Developers Sure Can)
Why the World Needs Pastors and Theologians Right Now
A lot of pastors are talking about artificial intelligence and how to use it, but not nearly enough are talking about the theology behind artificial intelligence.
In this Atlantic article, the author, not a particularly observant Christian, argues that the word "sin", should be used in the conversation around artificial intelligence. It's a welcome call for church leaders to start thinking about the bigger issues associated with AI.
As to accessing this article, since this is the beginning of the month, hopefully you can still access this article before your ‘free to view’ limit is used up. It's worth checking out.
AI is Trying to Erase Death
Toward a Christian Response.
A pregnant woman video-calls her mom for advice... her mom died months ago.
That's not a Black Mirror episode, it's a real app, built from three minutes of footage, and 22 million people have watched the promo. "Grief tech" is here, billionaires are spending millions to "cure death," and someone in your church is already tempted by all of it.
In this new post, I unpack how AI resurrection is a cruel counterfeit of Christian hope and why the age of AI is going to need more pastoring, not less.
Luke Crawford, a young pastor at Connexus Church (the church I helped plant and lead), has a great piece on 12 things he learned on his twelfth anniversary in ministry. I’ve had the privilege of co-teaching with Luke through a few sermon series, and his insights will be an encouragement to anyone starting out in ministry (in addition to those of us who have been around a minutes longer).
Your Sermon Can Power Your Whole Week
Repurpose it with Gloo Content Studio.
Pastors, your time is precious—and Gloo Content Studiois built to give it back to you. Imagine uploading your sermon once and instantly generating everything you need for the week ahead: social media reels, discussion guides, devotionals, and sermon recaps—without touching an editing tool.
Gloo Content Studio automates transcription, summarization, clipping, and content creation, saving you 6–10 hours every week. That’s time you can reinvest in prayer, people, and preparation. Spend less time behind a screen and more time shepherding your church.
Let your sermons work harder, so you don’t have to.
Hands down, this is my favorite Jim Collins book. It's short, powerful, and a recommended re-read this summer. He profiles how once-mighty companies fall and how their leaders allow it to happen. It's a good dose of humility for any of us who have had even a modicum of success.
“As easy as it was to sell your soul, it was next to impossible to buy it back.”
Speaking of how the mighty fall, this is a quote from Andrew Cooper, played by John Hamm, who is the central character in the Apple TV drama "Your Friends and Neighbors."
So true and so hauntingly enacted in this Apple TV series.
Cheering for you,
P.S. Weekend Watching
Tyler Staton
Tyler Staton on Finding Your Voice as a Young Preacher, the Gift of Imagination, and What Getting Sick Taught Him About Pace
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Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.
