Why You Shouldn’t Use AI to Write a Sermon

PREFACE

We have all likely heard a lot about Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots, like ChatGPT. I had no prior usage of any of these Chatbots so I set out to see if it would be proper to use them in sermon preparation. I constructed this sermon by entering the following prompt into six of the top ten AI Chatbots plus one other relatively new one, seven in all.

Prompt: “Please write a 4000 word sermon with outline quoting scripture and biblical principles on why you shouldn't use AI to write a sermon.”

In seconds each Chatbot crafted an outline and a full sermon in accordance with my request.

The irony of my request was not lost on one of the bots (Perplexity) –

It responded like this –

“That’s a really thoughtful and somewhat ironic request! Writing a 4000-word sermon on why you shouldn’t use AI to write a sermon (by having AI write one) carries an inherent paradox. But I understand your intent: you want a comprehensive, scripture-rooted message that cautions against outsourcing the sacred work of preaching to Artificial Intelligence.”

So, to be perfectly clear and totally transparent with you, the words of this sermon are NOT my words. They are a compilation of the responses of all seven AI bots. I merely cut and pasted them into a document. Bear in mind, Artificial Intelligence does not innovate; it draws from the material it finds on the internet and through algorithms structures a report verbatim of what it found.

I did not write this sermon in the traditional sense. I merely collated the seven AI responses to organize the flow, add headers, and delete redundancy, along with a few edits for length and clarity.

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INTRODUCTION

We live in a season of astonishing technological progress. Tools that once belonged to science fiction now sit on our desks and in our pockets. Technology can serve the church — and sometimes it does. Yet today I must speak plainly about a temptation in our day: the temptation to outsource the work of preaching the Word of God to Artificial Intelligence — to let a machine write our sermons.

It is the temptation of efficiency, the allure of the shortcut, the promise of a tool that can, with a few well-placed prompts, craft something that looks and sounds like a sermon.

I want to be clear from the start: this is not a sermon against using technology. Technology is a gift from God, and we see it used for good in countless ways, from livestreaming services to digital Bibles. This is a sermon about the nature of the Word itself and the sacred trust given to those called to preach it.

The sermon is not merely a speech or a collection of words; it is a medium through which God speaks to His people. It is a sacred act, rooted in prayer, study, and the leading of the [Holy] Spirit. Today, we will explore why entrusting this task to AI undermines the biblical principles of preaching, the authenticity of the preacher’s calling, and the transformative power of God’s Word.

The temptation to use AI assistance for sermon preparation might seem practical, even reasonable. After all, doesn’t AI have access to vast theological resources, commentaries, and biblical knowledge?

 

It can process the entirety of the Bible in a millisecond. It can cross-reference every theological commentary ever written. But it cannot believe.

 

A sermon written by AI, therefore, is a ghost. It has the shape of a sermon, it has the words of a sermon, but it lacks the soul. It is a beautifully crafted report about the Word, but it is not a living act of faith. And what our world desperately needs is not more information about God, but a living encounter with Him.

Preaching is not a mere transfer of facts—it is the living communication of God’s truth, spoken through a man with God’s Holy Spirit. When we look to shortcuts—whether through [outright] sermon plagiarism or, in our modern day, through the outsourcing of preaching to Artificial Intelligence—we tread on dangerous ground. Preaching is holy, weighty, blood-bought work. It cannot be delegated to [the ghost in the machine].

Today, we will explore the practice of using AI to write sermons. This is not about rejecting technology entirely, but about understanding the irreplaceable elements of authentic ministry that cannot and should not be outsourced to machines.

 

THE CALL OF THE PREACHER

 

2Ti 4:1-5 NKJV

(1)  I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

(2)  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

 

What does Scripture demand of those called to preach? When Paul charges Timothy in our text with the solemn words, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,” he establishes preaching not as mere information transfer, but as a sacred trust that requires the whole person—heart, mind, soul, and spirit.

 

Can a machine carry the weight of God’s call? Can it wrestle with the text as a human heart does? The answer is no, for preaching is not just about words—it is about faithfully stewarding the message God entrusts to His servants. What seems helpful may erode the foundations of our faith.

The preacher is not merely a communicator; he is a [faithful] steward of [the] mysteries [of God]. (1 Corinthians 4:1–2)

 

Jas 3:1 NKJV  My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

Preachers will give account to God, not only for how they lived, but for what they preached. Every sermon carries eternal weight. Who then will answer for sermons generated by machines? To delegate one’s sacred duty to a program is to stand before God having abdicated responsibility.

Every preacher must wrestle with the text, weep over the lost, pray for the Spirit’s anointing, and stand accountable before heaven itself for what is proclaimed. This duty cannot be shifted onto the shoulders of silicon and software. It belongs to the preacher alone.

The strict judgment that James warns about attaches to a human conscience that responds to God. If a preacher lets a machine speak in his stead, who is truly accountable before God and before the church? Using AI shifts accountability— who answers for errors, the preacher or the program?

1Co 2:1-5 NKJV

(1)  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

(2)  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

(3)  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

(4)  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

(5)  that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 

It is not about perfection but about faithfulness. God does not call us to produce flawless sermons; He calls us to be faithful stewards of His Word.

Paul tells the Corinthians he did not come with “enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

 

 

 

AI, no matter how advanced, cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit. It cannot pray, seek God’s face, or discern His will for a specific congregation. A sermon written by AI may sound polished, but it lacks the divine spark that comes from a preacher’s communion with God. The Spirit moves through human hearts that are surrendered to Him, not through algorithms that process data.

 

In 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV, Paul gives us a beautiful and profound image of ministry: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." The treasure is the gospel. The jar of clay is the preacher—fragile, breakable, and utterly human. The power, Paul insists, is not in the jar, but in the treasure, and the very imperfection of the jar serves to highlight the glory of the treasure it holds.

The temptation to use AI is the temptation to build a better jar—one that is flawless, efficient, and never fumbles for a word. But Paul’s ministry was a testament to the power of a fumbling, flawed jar.

The power of Paul’s preaching was not in its eloquence. It was in his weakness, his fear, and his trembling. His vulnerability allowed the power of the Holy Spirit to be made manifest.

When a congregation hears a sermon that bears the imprint of the preacher’s authentic life, they sense the credibility of the message. Without that personal touch, the sermon becomes a lecture rather than a shared pilgrimage.

Here lies the line AI can never cross. It can assemble enticing words of man’s wisdom. It can produce rhetorical elegance. But it cannot demonstrate the Spirit and the power of God. It can inform, but it cannot transform. For the things of God are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14), and a machine has no spirit.

 

 

PERSONAL WRESTLING WITH GOD’S WORD

 

There’s a connection between preacher and the sermon text. When the preacher hasn’t personally wrestled with the passage, he cannot speak with the authority of one who has been transformed by the text. The congregation senses this lack of personal engagement. They may receive information, but they don’t receive the bread of life that comes from a preacher who has first fed himself.

 

The foundation of authentic preaching begins with the preacher’s personal encounter with Scripture. Notice the progression in Ezra 7:10: study, do, then teach. It is not just information-gathering; it is prayerful encounter.

 

Ezr 7:10 NKJV  For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

 

This wasn’t casual reading or surface-level research that could be accomplished by consulting an AI database.

 

2Ti 2:15 KJV  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Paul’s instruction to Timothy uses the Greek word “spoudazo,” meaning to make every effort, to be eager, to give diligence, studying, meditating, and praying over Scripture.

Scripture speaks personally before it speaks generally. When a preacher struggles with a text—questioning, praying, meditating—the message that emerges carries the authenticity of personal spiritual battle.

 

The Holy Spirit works through human vessels, not digital algorithms. Jesus promised, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).

 

Personal wrestling produces spiritual authority. The difference between a sermon written by AI and one birthed through prayer and study is the difference between secondhand information and firsthand revelation. AI, by its nature, lacks a soul. It cannot experience the divine illumination. Nor can it be led by the Spirit of truth, as Jesus promises in John 16:13: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth."

 

If we use AI, we risk sermons devoid of vitality. They become echoes of human data, not whispers from heaven. Imagine a preacher inputting keywords like "faith" and "salvation," and out pops a polished message. But where is the wrestling in prayer, the tears over sin, the joy of discovery?

 

Consider the process: A preacher sits with an open Bible, perhaps struggling with a difficult passage. He reads commentaries, yes, but ultimately must grapple with the text himself. He prays, “Lord, what are you saying to me first, before I speak to others?” In that holy tension between human limitation and divine revelation, the sermon is conceived. This process shapes not only the message but the messenger.

 

The process of sermon preparation, when done authentically, serves as a means of grace in the preacher’s life. Consider the spiritual disciplines inherent in proper sermon preparation:

 

Prayer and Dependence on God: Before opening commentaries or consulting resources, the faithful preacher must come before God in prayer, acknowledging his need for divine illumination. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18). This prayer of dependence cannot be replicated by AI because it flows from genuine humility and recognition of human limitation.

 

Meditation on Scripture: The Psalm 1 man meditates on God’s law day and night. The Hebrew word for meditate (hagah) suggests a continuous, ruminating process—like a cow chewing its cud. This deep, repetitive consideration allows the Word to penetrate not just the mind but the heart. When a preacher sits with a text, reading it repeatedly, thinking about it while driving, praying over it before sleep, the text begins to work on the preacher before the preacher works on the sermon.

 

Wrestling with Personal Application: Before a preacher can faithfully apply a text to others, he must allow it to search his own heart. This personal examination cannot be outsourced because it requires genuine self-reflection and repentance.

Intercession for the Congregation: As the preacher prepares, he should be praying for his people—their specific needs, struggles, and spiritual condition. This intercession shapes not only the content of the sermon but its tone, emphasis, and application. This pastoral heart cannot be replicated artificially.

 

When we use AI to write sermons, we short-circuit this formative process. The result is not just an inferior sermon, but a preacher who remains spiritually unchanged by his own message and through him, the congregation—is bypassed in the name of efficiency.

 

When we shortcut this process through AI assistance, we rob ourselves of the transformative work that sermon preparation is meant to accomplish in the preacher’s own soul. We become distributors of processed spiritual food rather than shepherds who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. (Psa 34:8)

 

RELIANCE ON GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT

Central to the task of preaching is the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must rely on the Holy Spirit, not human inventions like AI.

1 Corinthians 2:10-13 NIV: "The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God... We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit."

Here we face the critical problem: Artificial Intelligence can generate words, but it cannot generate Spirit-taught words. AI is like a mirror of human knowledge—but preaching requires more than knowledge. It requires revelation, illumination, conviction—all of which can only come through the Holy Spirit.

The process of interpreting and applying Scripture requires spiritual discernment—a faculty that belongs solely to believers who have been indwelt by the [Holy] Spirit. An AI, however sophisticated, operates purely on pattern recognition and statistical inference, algorithms fed on vast datasets, often biased by secular worldviews; it lacks the Spirit’s illumination. Consequently, any sermon generated by AI can never claim true inspiration; it remains a human‑crafted artifact masquerading as divine counsel.

Artificial Intelligence, at best, is a simulacrum [semblance] of human language patterns. It can analyze texts, quote Scripture, assemble arguments, and mimic rhetorical forms. But it has no Spirit. AI's "creativity" is derivative, remixing human input without true innovation. Sermons should be fresh words from God, not algorithmic echoes.

Even if an AI were fed countless sermons, it would lack the living presence that makes a message transform lives. The Spirit’s timing, emphasis, and nuance are beyond any algorithmic prediction.

The power of preaching is not in polish but in presence—the Spirit’s presence coming through a sanctified messenger. “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy [Spirit], and in much assurance” (1 Thessalonians 1:5).

The sufficiency for ministry flows from God: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament” (2 Corinthians 3:5–6).

When we shift our functional trust to the speed, novelty, or polish of a generated sermon, we quietly confess another sufficiency. Tools may serve; they must never supplant.

 

EFFICIENCY OVER FAITHFULNESS

The process of sermon preparation is a sacred discipline. It is a journey of prayer, of meditation, and of diligent study. As we read and reread the text, as we consult commentaries and theological resources, we are not just gathering information; we are allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to us, to challenge us, to transform us. This is a process of sanctification.

It is a spiritual discipline that shapes us as much as it shapes the content we deliver. When we outsource this process, we are not just saving time; we are sidestepping a crucial part of our spiritual formation.

David reminds us in 2 Samuel 24:24 ESV [when he purchased the threshing floor to erect an altar]: “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

Sermon preparation is costly. A faithful preacher spends hours in the Word, days in prayer, nights wrestling with God’s truth. There are tears of frustration when the text feels closed and tears of joy when revelation breaks forth. This effort costs something—time, energy, life itself.

AI offers a shortcut. It says: “Save the time. Skip the wrestling. Here is something polished and ready.” But if David would not offer God something that cost him nothing, how dare we? To present to God’s people words concocted without sacrifice is to dishonor both God and His flock.

The church does not need efficiency. It needs faithfulness.

Using AI fosters laziness. 1 Timothy 5:17 honors elders "who labor in preaching and teaching." AI is a lazy shortcut, dishonoring God.

The parable of talents (Matthew 25:14-30) condemns the lazy servant. Revelation 3:15-16 rebukes lukewarmness: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot... So, because you are lukewarm... I will spit you out."

When God calls a man to preach, He doesn’t merely assign him a job—He imparts a sacred trust.

 

DISCERNMENT NEEDED TO SIFT THE DATASET

Truth, especially divine truth, is relational. It meets us where we are, speaks into our hearts, and invites us into a covenant relationship with God. When we reduce Scripture to searchable keywords or statistical probabilities, we strip it of its relational depth. AI treats the Bible as a dataset, ignoring the living, breathing context of the believer’s journey. The result is a sermon that may be factually correct yet spiritually sterile—unable to illuminate the darkness of a soul or stir genuine repentance.

AI systems learn from a vast corpora, [body of work] but they also inherit the biases, errors, and ambiguities present in those sources. A subtle shift in phrasing can change theological meaning dramatically. Moreover, AI lacks the ability to discern cultural, historical, and literary contexts that are essential for sound exegesis. A misapplied verse can lead a congregation astray, cause doctrinal confusion, or even foster heretical ideas. The preacher, trained in hermeneutics and accountable to the church, must guard against such pitfalls.

AI is trained on the world’s data; it reflects human opinions, half-truths, and the confusions of the age. AI poses risks of error and dilution. Machines lack conscience; they replicate pattern rather than covenant. AI, trained on global data, might produce generic content that fails to resonate. This detachment could lead to shallow faith.

AI may [even] draw from thousands of sermons, but it cannot seek God’s face. It may mimic biblical language, but it cannot discern God’s will. A sermon written by AI risks being a hollow echo of human words, not a vessel of divine truth.

Col 2:8 KJV  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

AI algorithms are designed to please and cater to user preferences.

The sermon must be prophetic, challenging worldly wisdom, and not catering to "itching ears."

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions (2Ti 4:3 ESV) 

 

The sermon is meant to be a moment of truth-telling, even if that truth is uncomfortable. It is meant to challenge the world's wisdom and to confront sin. It is meant to call people to a life of repentance and obedience. The temptation for a human preacher, and a temptation that an AI could very easily amplify, is to give people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.

An AI, by its very design, is built on algorithms that seek to please the user, to generate content that is most likely to be accepted and enjoyed.

The gospel is not about consensus, but about a singular, radical truth.

It is meant to be counter-cultural, to be a stumbling block to the world.

 

WISE DISTINCTIONS: TOOLS AS RESOURCES NOT AS AUTHORS

Commentaries, lexicons, historical helps, and even software can assist us.  If AI is used as a research assistant — to find historical background, to highlight linguistic questions, to suggest references — and then the preacher prays over, edits, and personalizes that material in a Spirit-led way, that is different from outsourcing the entire act of proclamation.

Use reference works to clarify difficult texts, to check outlines against the grain of Scripture, to consult backgrounds—then go back to prayer, meditation, and writing in your own voice.

The final composition, theological framing, and pastoral application must remain the preacher’s own work. After any technological assistance, pray earnestly, seek the Spirit’s confirmation, and perhaps run the draft by trusted elders for accountability.

Always remember the baseline: the pulpit must be human, accountable, and Spirit-led. Our Lord gave the church pastors and teachers “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11)

AUTHENTICITY AND INTEGRITY

Scripture calls for faithfulness, not convenience. “We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully” (2 Corinthians 4:2).

Test everything by Scripture and conscience. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Let the Spirit-trained conscience keep you from handing holy things to impersonal hands.

God calls His messengers to speak His Word faithfully, not to rely on artificial substitutes. An AI-generated sermon may sound impressive, but it lacks the fire of God’s truth spoken through a faithful heart.

Jer 23:30-36 NRSV

(30)  See, therefore, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal my words from one another.

(31)  See, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their own tongues and say, "Says the LORD."

(32)  See, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the LORD, and who tell them, and who lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or appoint them; so they do not profit this people at all, says the LORD.

(36)  But "the burden of the LORD" you shall mention no more, for the burden is everyone's own word, and so you pervert the words of the living God.

 

Is that not what AI does? It steals phrases, recombines sentences, producing words as though they carried authority. It “wags its tongue” with borrowed wisdom. But God did not send it. He did not appoint it. And how dangerous it would be to put counterfeit words in the mouths of God’s people as though they were Spirit-breathed.

The pulpit must never echo with artificial words. The pulpit rings hollow if its words are not weighted with the burden of a human heart and the power of God’s Spirit.

Preaching must draw from the fountain of living waters, not from systems that repackage what they have gathered secondhand.

 

CONCLUSION

This is not a call to reject all technology or helpful resources. Commentaries, concordances, theological works, and even digital tools can serve as valuable aids in sermon preparation. The crucial distinction is between tools that assist human study and systems that replace human spiritual labor.

 

The question each preacher must answer is not whether AI can produce acceptable sermons—it probably can. The question is whether using AI to write sermons fulfills the biblical mandate to “preach the word”.

 

When we stand before Christ to give account of our stewardship, will we be able to say with Paul, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” ? (Acts 20:27) Or will we have to acknowledge that we delegated this sacred responsibility to artificial systems?

So, I urge you: Preach the Word. Preach it when it is hard, preach it when it is costly, preach it when you feel weary. Preach it when the world says a machine could do it better. Preach it with trembling, with weakness, with tears, with joy. But preach it in the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Timothy 4:13-16 ESV - “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things; immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

 

Paul’s final charge to Timothy provides a fitting conclusion to our consideration of why preachers should not use AI to write sermons. Notice the intensely personal nature of Paul’s instructions:

 

“Devote yourself” - The Greek word (prosecho) means to turn one’s mind to, to occupy oneself with, to give attention to. This devotion cannot be outsourced or automated. It requires personal investment of time, energy, and spiritual focus.

 

 

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you” - Timothy’s spiritual gift was given specifically to him through prophetic ministry and the laying on of hands. This gift required cultivation and exercise. (Heb 5:14) Using AI to write sermons would represent a fundamental neglect of the spiritual gifts God has given to each preacher.

 

“Practice these things; immerse yourself in them” - The call to practice and immersion suggests ongoing, intensive engagement.

 

“Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching” - This vigilant attention requires personal responsibility that cannot be delegated to artificial systems. The preacher must guard both his character and his doctrine through personal spiritual discipline.

 

Paul’s final promise to Timothy is significant: “Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” The word “persist” (epimeno) suggests continuing steadfastly despite difficulty. The promise is twofold—both preacher and people benefit from this authentic perseverance.

 

 

The choice before every preacher is clear: Will we embrace the difficult but transformative work of authentic sermon preparation, or will we take the shortcut that promises efficiency but delivers spiritual poverty? Shortcuts—whether stealing another’s sermon or outsourcing to AI—undermines the sacred calling.

 

Let us open our Bibles, get on our knees, and allow God to speak to us first, so that we might then speak His living and powerful Word to a world in desperate need.

Preach the Word—prayerfully, faithfully, sacrificially.

 

 

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Submit Yourselves Therefore to God & Be Subject One to Another

Introduction

On April 28, 2025, Air Traffic Control for Newark Airport experienced an outage. Three of the four radar screens went black, and all radio communications with aircraft were lost.

The outage lasted roughly 90 seconds. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association confirmed the incident, stating that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations center located in Philadelphia had "temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, making it impossible to see, hear, or speak to them."

For 90 seconds, planes in the area were flying without the oversight, direction, and control of the air traffic controllers. At that time, no one knew why it happened or how long it would last.

Would that make you uneasy? Perhaps even a little anxious? Did the passengers even know?

That would certainly make me uncomfortable. We expect some things to be under control no matter what. And that certainly includes flying. It also gives us comfort to know that the pilot is trained and experienced. I don’t know about you, but I like to glance into the cockpit as I’m boarding and see a bit of gray hair. It tells me the pilot has been at this for a while, successfully. If I find out he’s an ex-Navy pilot who landed on aircraft carriers in the middle of the ocean, well, that’s even better.

We like it when things are under control. Running smoothly. We like to manage our schedules, families, finances, and futures. Having control over our affairs gives us peace and confidence. But we can take things too far not wanting to trust anything to anyone else, not even God.

It’s natural to want a sense of certainty. When life feels out of control, we feel uneasy. But God calls us to trust Him, not to micromanage everything out of fear.

 

It says in Scripture –  

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Prov 3:5)

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. (Jer 10:23)

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. (Prov 16:9)

We may think we’re in control, but we’re not as in control as we might like to think.

 

Submit Yourselves Therefore to God and Be Subject One to Another

The title is derived from the following scriptures:

 

Jas 4:7 KJV  Submit G5293 yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

Eph 5:21 KJV  Submitting G5293 yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

 

1Pe 5:5 KJV  Likewise, ye younger, submit G5293 yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject G5293 one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

 

It’s the same word in the Greek, submit, submitting, be subject. To put the other person first, to be subordinate to them and their needs.

 

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. (Psa 118:8-9)

Put not your confidence in men, but in God. Yet, we do it all the time. We know we are to put our complete trust in the LORD. Unquestionably. But the passages we just read also tell us to rely on one another.

We trust in man-made systems – Air Traffic Control, pilots, FAA regulations. We rely on others because we must.

The same goes for other complex systems – gasoline distribution, the electrical grid, water treatment. When something fails, we want to know:

-         Who’s in charge?

-         What went wrong?

-         Who’s fixing it?

-         How long will it take?

We put our trust in man-made systems because, like it or not, we have no other choice.

To create the illusion of control in our lives, we spend lots of time and money organizing our lives, building routines, to stay as in control as possible. When anything is disrupted, we feel unsettled until it’s resolved.

Why? Pride, perhaps. We like being self-reliant.

Or maybe fear, because when things feel like they’re out of control, anxiety creeps in.

We fear the unknown. If left unchecked, our minds can spiral into worst-case scenarios.

We seek order, calmness, and contentment in our lives and when they’re not, anxiety enters in.

Anxiety and Control

In 2024, the American Psychiatric Association reported increased anxiety levels among U.S. adults.

43% said they felt more anxious than the previous year (up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022).

• 70%/67% cited current events as a cause. (wars and rumors of war; civil unrest, I suspect this is even higher today given the latest events)
• 77% were anxious about the economy (national debt at an all-time high, inflationary prices out of control, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer)
• 73% were worried about the 2024 election. (poll taken in May. The total percentage is probably still the same, just re-apportioned between Red and Blue)
• 69% feared gun violence.

Other Top Sources of Anxiety (2024 Poll):

• Keeping my family safe (68%/62%) (gun violence, crime, home invasion, fire, flood, hurricane, tornado)
• Paying bills (63%/61%) (just keeping up with inflation, putting food on the table; unexpected expenses – car repair, home repair, medical expenses)
• Health concerns (63%/59%) (sickness, pandemics like COVID, chronic disease, aging)
• Identity theft (63%/57%) (ruining my credit, my reputation)
• Climate change (57%/53%) (caused by man or not, the climate is changing and has changed, warming/cooling throughout the centuries; Revelation plagues coming)
• Emerging technologies (46%/44%) (AI in particular is disconcerting, impacting us all very quickly – jobs eliminated, auto-control by heartless algorithms)
• The opioid epidemic (50%/42%) (Family or friends getting hooked on painkillers inadvertently)
• Job security (40%/40%) (DOGE, tariffs, cost cutting efforts, robotics and AI eliminating some jobs)

No wonder people are becoming more anxious every year. Even with all our control systems in place and all our aims to control everything, there’s still a high degree of uncertainty and anxiety.

I typed the phrase “list of medications to treat anxiety” into my search engine. Drugs.com came back with a list of 53 medications for anxiety. I would say it’s reaching epidemic proportions.

We like things stable. But is it realistic to expect that everything will always be under control, especially under our control?

Since the Fall of man, we’ve had to earn our keep by the sweat of our brow. It’s not supposed to be easy. Life requires constant attention, toil, and repair.

Scripture tells us that a time is coming when things will be even more out of man’s control, completely out of control, chaos. Christ Himself warned us about a time of tribulation, great tribulation like has never before. A time when the world will cry out for someone to restore control, a strong man, to step in and bring peace.

I’m not telling you these things to scare you. You’re likely already scared. I’m telling you this to create a sense of urgency. Part of our church’s slogan is, “Preparing a People”. Are we prepared for what’s coming our way?

One Thing We Can Control

We can’t control much but there’s one thing we can control: our thoughts, what we focus on, what we think about.

It takes real effort to direct our attention to positive things. But if we don’t, something else will grab our attention, whether it’s news cycles, politics, TV and entertainment, or advertising.

I never cease to be amazed by the pharmaceutical advertisements. Many times, I’ve never even heard of these medical conditions before but the side effects of the drugs seem to be way worse. And I’ve never asked my doctor whether or not a single one was right for me.

And by allowing this negativity to enter our minds, the cumulative effect of the anxiety builds whether we realize it or not. Anxiety can manifest itself in symptoms, illnesses, and diseases without us realizing the true cause leads back to stress and anxiety, the very things we allow to capture our attention. And “Big Pharma” is right there with the perfect pill or injection to treat the symptom while ignoring the root cause. I’m convinced they don’t want a cure, but just to manage the symptoms enough to keep the money rolling in. Customers who are cured are no longer customers.

Most of the things that grab our attention don’t affect our lives in any meaningful way on a day-to-day basis. We don’t change what we do on a daily basis because of it. Yet we allow them to fill our minds and steal our peace.

There’s a reason Paul writes to the Philippians: (Php 4:6-9 KJV)

 

… in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [not the govt. or Big Pharma] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

And to think on these things – whatsoever things are:

·        true

·        honest

·        just

·        pure

·        noble

·        of good report

·        virtuous

·        praiseworthy

and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

The truth of the Bible tells us that if we “think on these things”, meditate on them, we will experience a peace that we don’t even understand.

Much of the media we consume – news, politics, pharmaceutical advertisements, etc. instill fear and cause anxiety. Maybe it’s time for a “media fast”. Unplug. Go outside, read a book, visit with friends face-to-face.

The Root of Fear and Anxiety

At its core, all our fears are rooted in the fear of death.

Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV
(14) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
(15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

It is that very fear of death that the Evil One uses to control us. Make one mistake and fear, uncertainty, anxiety can cause us to lose our way.

We have been freed by Christ from bondage to sin and death. The blood of Christ has purged our consciences from dead works to serve the living God. No longer to live in doubt or fear.

As Christians, we have no reason to fear death in this life as life eternal has been assured to us by the blood of our LORD Jesus Christ.

Luke 12:4-5 KJV
(4) And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
(5) But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

 

Mike Goodwin

one of my favorite Christian comedians puts it this way:

"In life, you only got two things to worry about:

Are you healthy or are you sick?

If you’re healthy, you got nothing to worry about. But if you’re sick, you got two things to worry about:

Are you going to get better or are you going to get worse?

If you get better, you got nothing to worry about. But if you get worse, you got two things to worry about:

Whether you’re going to live or whether you’re going to die?

If you live, you got nothing to worry about. But if you die, you got two things to worry about:

Whether you’re going to heaven or whether you’re going to hell?

If you’re going to heaven, you got nothing to worry about. But if you’re going to hell, you got two things to worry about:

Original or Extra Crispy."

 

As Christians, we’ve already been crucified with Christ. We died already.

Galatians 2:20 KJV
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The old man in us has died. We’ve been bought with a price. We’re no longer our own. We live by faith and await the resurrection.

 

Trust in God's Control

So, I’m not afraid of dying. I just don’t want to be there when it happens. There’s no reason to fear.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. (Jas 4:7)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7)

We must stay focused on our future in the Kingdom of God.

To quote a good friend of mine, “I’m gonna live forever. I might die first.” – Tom Henager. He’s your good friend too.

Always remember, God is in control. If we can sacrifice our control to His, we won’t live in fear. If all things really do work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose, we have nothing to worry about. (Rom 8:28)

When I was a child, I had no concerns. I was just experiencing life. The cares of life were for my father to worry about, not me.

I had no concept of what my dad was dealing with until a became a father myself. I’ve been a world class worrier ever since. I’ve heard that worrying can cause your hair to turn gray – but I don’t know. Do you see any evidence of that?

I remember when my oldest son found his first gray hair in his early thirties. He called to ask me when I had gotten mine. I thought for a moment and replied, “I can tell you exactly when it was: November 8, 1980.” He paused, thought about it, then exclaimed, “Hey! That’s my birthday!” Exactly. Your focus and priorities in life change when you have children. You take on a new role and new responsibilities to create a safe environment where your children don’t need to worry.

Because we have a Heavenly Father who cares for us, as children of God, we have no reason to be overly concerned either. We leave the cares to our Heavenly Father to worry about; casting all our cares upon Him, knowing and trusting because He cares for us. (1Pet 5:7)

 

God does expect us to manage our affairs but under His direction.

God gave man dominion in Eden. But after the Fall, it’s only by the sweat of our brow. And we must exercise responsibility and self-control to make our way in this life. Ideally, in accordance with God’s will. But if not God’s will then someone else is crouching at the door.

As I’ve told my children and grandchildren: If you don’t control yourself, somebody else will. Whether it’s school, work, or behavior, discipline grants you a degree of control. If you do well, you will be blessed. But if you don’t exercise proper self-control, others will control you, possibly even the state.

And I don’t care who you are, you’re going to have to serve somebody. No matter how successful or powerful you become there’s always somebody you have to answer to.

Bob Dylan Had It Right

Everybody’s “Gotta Serve Somebody” – released by Bob Dylan in 1979 it won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Male in 1980.

 

Lyrics:

You may be an ambassador, to England or France

You may like to gamble, you might like to dance

You may be the heavyweight champion of the world

You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

 

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes

Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody

 

The song goes on for six more verses always ending in the same refrain.

Yes indeed. You’re gonna have to serve somebody.

Either you serve the LORD, or by default, you serve the Devil.

 

1Jn 5:18-19 ESV

(18)  We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

(19)  We know that we are from God, and the whole world [the rest of the world] lies in the power of the evil one.

So, it’s either one or the other depending to whom we yield ourselves. If you don’t consciously choose to serve God, you’re already serving the prince of this world by default. This applies to all people at all social and economic levels. You’re either living by godly principles or the lawless dictates of the Evil One.

Romans 6:16 KJV  To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are...

Rod Dreher, who wrote the book, Live Not By Lies, says this in his new book, Living in Wonder –

“Repentance begins with the sacrifice of control... and that can be frightening.”

Yes, it can be frightening at first when we let go and let God.

 
But it's best to surrender to God all the things of this life and trust Him for the outcome. We have minimal control over them anyway. And through prayer, we can discuss even the smallest things with Him down to the last detail.

Look at the list of things people worry about most: the economy, war, civil unrest. Sure, we can take reasonable steps, being prudent with money, and staying away from unsafe areas. But when it comes to the bigger picture, we must let it go. Stop trying to take over. God’s got this.

Once surrendered, trust God, and stop worrying about it.

As my dad used to say about letting things go and forgetting about them, “Don’t leave the handle sticking out.” In other words, don’t give it to God while keeping a grip on it, just in case you want to take it back. Maybe you think God’s not working on it fast enough to suit you, so you try to take back control. Don’t do it. God isn’t on your schedule.

Psalm 27:14 KJV
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Wait on the LORD. Wait, I say, on the LORD.

Obey God even when you’re uncertain; especially when you’re uncertain. That’s faith, active faith, shown by obedience to the leading prompts of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus did.

Hebrews 5:8 KJV  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.

If Jesus had to learn obedience, of course we do too. When we suffer, we should ask God what is the lesson we must learn from it. We may not be able to count it all joy at the time but there is a reason for it. Search it out. (James 1:2)

Psalm 37:23–27 KJV
(23) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
(24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
(25) I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

(26) He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
(27) Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

Though God will direct our steps and see to it that we will not be utterly cast down, that does not mean we’re to go it alone. He placed us in a body of believers in order to strengthen us and likewise for us to lift them up. It is the very means by which He upholds us with His hand. We are to look after others, especially those of the household of faith. (Gal 6:10; James 1:27)

 

We Cannot Make It On Our Own

As we grow from childhood, we may think we’ve gained control of our lives, but eventually, we come to realize that many things in life are beyond our control. More and more, there are elements over which we have very little, if any, real influence.

We can’t manage it all alone. We need to rely on God and on each other to make it through. We need emotional support from time to time and encouragement, even physical support, and spiritual support through prayer, edification, exhortation, and comfort from our brothers and sisters in Christ who understand us best; who have seen us at our worst and still love us.

It’s only by God’s grace that he placed us in a caring body of believers like ours that we can rely on the support and help we need.

I know, it’s hard for some of us to accept help. And it’s hard to let others know your business. But one thing I’ve learned: we all will need someone’s help sooner or later. It doesn’t have to be a public request but a private conversation with someone you trust. Either way we’re here for each other.

James 5:16 KJV  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

The Bible tells us to confess our faults one to another; not to share every sordid detail of our past, but to share our hopes and fears, concerns and struggles, with each other in Christ. Trusting in each other with discretion and praying for one another.

Romans 12:10–15 NKJV
(10) Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

[put the needs of your brother or sister in Christ ahead of your needs, even when it’s inconvenient. When they need you, they need you]

(11) not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
(12) rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
(13) distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

(15) Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

It is becoming clearer every day: we cannot, and will not, overcome all that is coming our way by ourselves. In isolation we wither but together we flourish. We need each other. We must endeavor to develop relationships of trust and authenticity now. We need to get to know each other like we know our own brothers and sisters.

Pause and ask yourself:

Who can you trust unequivocally in a crisis?

Who would you trust with your very life or the life of a loved one?

Is it a family member? A long-time friend? Someone in the church?

Is there anyone you can trust like that?

Outcasts Together

The time is coming when we will be ostracized, pushed to the margins of society, and even betrayed by people we once thought we could trust. (Matt 10:36) We need to begin fortifying our relationships now while we still can meet in peace and discuss such things in safety.

Imagine one day you discover your credit cards don’t work. Your bank accounts are frozen. All your financial assets are locked. At first, you assume it’s a temporary glitch.

But then you realize you’ve been targeted!

It becomes clear: you’ve been marked as a problem. You’re not welcome. You’re not “in line” with society’s program. You’ve said the wrong thing to the wrong person. You’ve spoken outside the permissible narrative. You’ve gone and said the quiet part out loud.

Who do you turn to?

Family? Neighbors? Do you even know your neighbors?

What about your brothers and sisters in Christ? The very people in this room – how well do you know them?

Where do you turn?

Digital Cancellation and AI Control

With the rise of artificial intelligence, decisions are now made by impersonal algorithms. Software scans millions of datapoints in seconds flagging keywords and phrases. Facial recognition software and photo analysis identifies you and GPS tracking can find you wherever you are.

Remember the TV show, “Person of Interest”?

Maybe you don’t think we’re there yet?

Go to YouTube and search for “Palantir surveillance”. You’ll see what I mean.

It’s time to think about these things.

You can be “canceled” electronically, digitally erased, without a single human involved.

Recently, I had a small taste of this. I tried logging into my Facebook account and discovered it had been disabled. No warning. No clear explanation, just that I violated some obscure "Community Standard." Appeal? Denied. No recourse for 180 days and maybe, maybe not, they’ll consider reinstatement. No person to contact. Nothing.

What if it had been my bank account?

This is real and it’s happening faster than we think. Remember the Canadian truckers who had their financial assets frozen for protesting against C0VID policies? Companies in this country have been de-banked because they sell firearms and the bank doesn’t want their business.

Christians are already being marginalized around the world. Look at China’s social credit system. That's the template. And it’s likely coming here in the not-too-distant future.

These are things we should consider together now while we have the freedom to do so.

The system is collapsing. We must live resilient Christian lives.

We become anxious when we’re uncertain about the future but if we sacrifice control to God and we place our full trust in Him, there is peace.

Real peace.

John 14:27 KJV  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

Conclusion

We’d like to have complete control over everything that affects our lives but we can’t.

There are only two things you got to worry about –

1.     Submit Yourselves Therefore to God

§  Walk with Him daily

§  Draw near to Him. Get to know him on the “Abba” level. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Rom 8:15 KJV)

§  Allow Him to draw near to you. Repentance. Love Him. Obey Him. Trust Him. (Rom 8:28)

2.     Be Subject One to Another - Fortify your relationships

§  Church of God members with focus on our own congregation. Look out for one another. Get close enough to really trust each other.

§  Develop relationships with your neighbors who live closest to you. They may be your first line of support due to proximity.

 

Bonus recommendation – If you find yourself getting anxious

A)  Prayer. There is joy and peace in God’s presence

B)   Call/Text/Visit with your Christian brothers/sisters and neighbors Tell them how you feel – Don’t isolate yourself

C)   Examine your input – TV, Internet, News, Politics, Entertainment. Does it give you a sense of peace or anxiety? Consider a “media fast”. Unplug. Go outside. Read a book. Visit with friends.

 

Jesus, take the wheel!

Sacrificing control isn’t passive; it’s an act of faith. A daily choice to trust God. It’s a sacrifice of your will for His.

Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42)

Trying to control what was never ours to begin with only brings worry.

Trusting in the One who is actually in control brings peace.

I look forward to the Sabbath each week, not only to hear God’s Word and sing His praises, but also to be with you, God’s people, of like mind and faith.

I hope you don’t consider this as just another sermon on unity but as a call to survival, collective struggle, and mutual support. We need each other, now and even more as we see the day approaching. We have a lot yet to go through before our LORD returns.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34–35)

We are becoming a family. We ARE a family! And we must learn to depend on each other because the time is coming when we will have no other choice.

I hope the message is clear –

The time has come to get close to God and to build close relationships of love and trust with each other.

 

Col 3:12-17 NKJV

(12)  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

(13)  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

(14)  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

(15)  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

(16)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

(17)  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

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