Episode 12 - Reflections and Future Directions: Wrapping Up Season One

In this final episode of Season One, Mercedes and Peter reflect on what they’ve learned over six months of exploring AI and ministry. From shifting use patterns to theological concerns, from project workflows to mental health implications, they chart both practical strategies and faithful commitments for churches navigating an AI-shaped world.

Topics Covered:

• Sci-fi stories as mirrors for our hopes and fears about AI
• Why relational ministry can’t be automated
• The emotional effects of AI vs. social media
• Reasoning models and context engineering in ChatGPT
• What AI can and can’t do for church communications and planning
• Human oversight, authenticity, and theological discernment
• How AI is accelerating—and why that matters for churches
• AI agents, multimodal tools, and upcoming tech like GPT-5
• Mental health concerns and potential risks of AI use
• The enduring value of community and the spoken word
• Personal updates and what’s next for Peter and Mercedes

Resources Mentioned:

• Living Stories Sermons: livingstoriessermons.org
• Spike Jonze’s Her (film)
• Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward series (featuring the AI “M-Bot”)
• Murderbot Diaries (TV adaptation mentioned by Peter)
• The Murder Bot Diaries (book series by Martha Wells)
• Neil Stephenson’s Fall or, Dodge in Hell

Homework:

• Try building a ChatGPT Project Folder for a current ministry task—use it for planning, then test it again for communications.
• Reflect on your values: What parts of your work are deeply relational and should never be automated?
• Watch a sci-fi film or read a story that features AI. What values does it reflect? What fears or hopes does it raise?

• (00:08) - GPT5 from OpenAI is expected to come out very soon
  


• (00:11) - Moore's Law says computing power doubles every two years
  


• (00:29) - Authenticity in the church using artificial intelligence
  


• (00:36) - Using AI to help write more fluently and more quickly
  


• (00:54) - The usefulness of reasoning models
  


• (00:56) - Closing Thoughts