A small church in Littleton is doing something unexpected with artificial intelligence. Instead of flashy tech stunts, it is using AI to stretch Sunday sermons into tools people can use all week. The church is called One City Church, and it has been testing this approach quietly for about a year.
The goal is to stretch what already exists. Sermons are broken down and reused as devotionals, kids’ content, and Bible study resources that last beyond one service. That shift helps churches stay connected without burning through staff time.
Most of the work still begins with a person. A pastor uploads a sermon transcript, and the system takes it from there. Church leaders say the time savings are immediate and noticeable, freeing them up for conversations that don’t fit into a workflow.
Less time staring at screens means more time in the community. For a small church, that balance can make or break its outreach.
Gloo’s Platform Keeps Ethics in the Conversation
Gloo / IG / The technology comes from Gloo, a Boulder-based company focused on faith and nonprofit spaces.
Gloo describes its mission as "shaping technology for good," with clear boundaries built in. That message resonates with church leaders who worry about AI going too far.
The company stresses that the platform is meant to work alongside church leadership, not replace it. Churches use the tools to organize material, customize resources, and communicate more efficiently without losing purpose. More than 140,000 organizations reportedly rely on the software, from small congregations to large ministries.
Ethics remain a deciding factor. Church leaders want transparency around how data is handled and how content is generated. Trust is delicate. Once members begin to feel technology outweighing conviction, confidence can slip.
At One City Church, those boundaries are firmly set. The AI doesn’t preach or counsel. It works with material pastors have already written. The message stays human, even as the process becomes more efficient.
AI Spreads Across Faith Spaces, With Mixed Reactions
What’s happening in Colorado reflects a broader trend. Religious institutions around the world are experimenting with AI in different ways. Some move cautiously. Others push forward faster. Most find themselves somewhere in between.
Administrative tasks account for most of the use. Churches rely on AI for sermon transcription, calendar management, and routine questions. A smaller group explores chat tools that introduce basic faith concepts. Even with experimentation, leaders tend to agree on one point. Technology can support ministry, but it cannot replace pastoral care.
These conversations have led to formal guidelines. Churches are writing policies around privacy, bias, and honesty about AI-generated material. The aim is responsible use without drifting from core beliefs.
Andrew / Pexels / New faith communities experiment with AI as something more than a tool.
While these ideas fall outside traditional theology, they show how technology is influencing spiritual expression.
Creative spaces have embraced the shift as well. AI-driven religious installations draw crowds and criticism alike. Some visitors report meaningful experiences. Others feel unsettled. The boundary between symbol and tool continues to blur.
Researchers are now studying the relationship between automation and belief. Early findings suggest that as technology solves more practical problems, traditional faith may lose some of its functional role. When machines meet everyday needs, spiritual reliance can diminish.
