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webpage of chatgpt a prototype ai chatbot is seen on the website of openai on a smartphone examples capabilities and limitations are shown

What Kind of People Is AI Teaching Us to Become?

  1. Endurance with Problems
  2. Endurance with People
  3. Endurance with Perspective

Millions of 13-years old’s are interacting with AI on a daily basis and as a result their formative years are being shaped and influenced by the frame-work being presented. They aren’t simply AI for help with homework like, “What’s the capital of France?” They are talking to AI about their problems at school. Areas of life where they are worried. Conversations with a friend that didn’t end as expected. And AI will have an answer for every question or thought presented!

Which raises a question, “How is AI shaping the next generation?” I can imagine at least three areas that are worth watching: 

1. Endurance with Problems. This concern isn’t new for Gen Z and Gen Alpha. We already see patterns where young people are struggling to navigate problems. Most parenting books written today are trying to encourage parents to stop solving problems for their children. 

When my kids were in middle school in Austin, TX, counselors would describe their ideal school environment as an “island of safety.” I remember asking them, “Island of Safety for Middle Schoolers?” It felt ambitious! I would ask my kids, “Do you feel like your school is an Island of Safety?”  They would laugh!  

After all, it’s middle school! Our kids still saw kids picking on other kids, making fun of other kids, and they said it was something the students would make fun of when it was referenced. 

What if instead of promising children an Island of Safety we told children, “Life is hard!” Sometimes our friends are going to hurt us. Many times, accidentally, but sometimes intentionally. It doesn’t mean we tolerate abuse and cruelty but childhood can be a time to learn how to navigate the difficult parts of life. 

And it makes me wonder what happens when the AI chat bots become our new Island of Safety we turn to for comfort and security? What happens when children learn from a young age that discomfort in life means we withdraw and seek safety so that we can find relief?

If that pattern is repeated often enough a person’s world will get smaller, and a person’s confidence will get weaker because the person is learning to avoid discomfort instead of persevere. 

2. Endurance with People. Another concern I see creeping into our culture through the use of AI is that we will become fatigued by one another. AI is incredibly easy to engage. The communication level is becoming more human. And, most of all, AI is really good at listening!

AI doesn’t have anywhere else to be in that conversation. There are no distractions competing for its attention. It is able to fully listen, even if our communication is clumsy, disordered, or rambling. AI is with us every step of the way. 

Then, imagine those moments when you talk to a friend and they are looking at their phone, interrupting, struggling to understand, laughing at moments that weren’t meant to be funny. Who wants to go through that experience? Or, who wants to pick up the phone and talk to their parents about something difficult? 

Some of my best relationships in life have been built out of clumsy communication. There are memories of people sticking with me when I couldn’t explain myself fully. And, moments when people have left a conversation and misunderstood what I was trying to communicate. Yes, it can be fatiguing, but it is also a beautiful part of how we build relationships with one another. 

That makes me wonder, “When is the younger generation going to develop those communication muscles?” Where will they learn to become curious when they don’t understand? What about persevering through a challenging conversation? Or, will they conclude these relationships aren’t worth the effort? 

3. Endurance with Perspective. Lastly, this might be obvious in light of the first two, but AI is extraordinarily certain in a conversation. If a question is asked, “Why I am frustrated with my friend?” AI will give us an answer within seconds! Will it be accurate? Maybe? But, overall, AI gives the impression that the listener now has a complete view about a particular situation.

But every answer in life comes from a specific framework and AI isn’t always forthright about the framework shaping its responses. Therefore, when it comes to conversations around morality, politics, economics, theology, or sociology, the chat bot will provide a concise and confident response. 

Therefore, it’s possible a whole generation is being raised with a reference tool of one specific view on life without even realizing there are other frameworks or perspectives to consider. The danger isn’t getting a wrong answer. It’s becoming certain too quickly!

Endurance with perspective is the ability to remain curious long enough to seriously consider other viewpoints. But my concern is that AI will lead us to a place where we become less open-minded, because the “facts” have been laid out in seconds. 

Conclusion

For me, as a pastor walking around the Domain in Austin, TX, my concern isn’t AI is going to take our jobs or make us lazy. My concern is that we are being indoctrinated in ways we can’t even see. And, a young person is going to have this experience in the most formative years of their life. 

But, maybe like any generation of young people, maybe they will rebel? Maybe in 10-15 years we will see a generation swinging in the opposite direction? Maybe they will be looking and longing for an Island of Chaos, because the world feels too ordered around them?

Leading Through Uncertainty

There are moments when leadership isn’t about having the answers. It’s about creating space for people to hear from God. A few months ago, our church found ourselves in one of those moments.

Our lease was ending. The rent on our building was increasing from $13,000 a month to $17,000. We knew we weren’t going to sign another long term lease. That meant we had a decision to make: Was North Village Church coming to an end, or was God inviting us into a new season?

On a personal level, there was a temptation to answer that question for everyone else. Instead, our elders decided to do something different. We asked our church family not to decide immediately. We asked them to pray.

Rather than holding one emotional meeting, we created a month long discernment guide. Each day people reflected on a different question. Not logistical questions. Heart questions.

  • Do you still resonate with our mission?
  • Do you still believe in the values that have shaped this church?
  • Would you follow Jesus into an uncertain future even if it meant setting up chairs every Sunday in a temporary location?
  • Would saying “no” bring relief… or would it feel like you were walking away from something God was inviting you into?
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By the end of the month we asked everyone to honestly land in one of three places:

  • “I’m in.”
  • “I’m exploring.”
  • “I’m out.”

Notice what we weren’t asking. We weren’t asking people to stay because of friendships. We weren’t asking them to stay because they felt guilty. We weren’t asking them to stay because they liked me as their pastor. We wanted them to follow Jesus, wherever He was leading.

Freedom Is Better Than Pressure

One sentence from the guide became especially important to me. We told people that if God was leading them elsewhere, we wanted them to feel completely free to go. That sounds simple. It’s surprisingly difficult.

Leaders can often feel pressure to retain people. Attendance becomes a scorecard. Every family that leaves feels personal. But churches aren’t built through pressure. They’re built through conviction. I’d rather have someone joyfully say “yes” because they believe God called them than reluctantly stay because they felt obligated.

The Response

On June 1, after a month of prayer and reflection, 40 men and women committed to moving forward into the next season of North Village Church. Not because we had all the answers. Not because everything was settled. Because they believed God was leading them.

For me, that number represented far more than attendance. It represented ownership. Shared conviction. People choosing mission over comfort. As a pastor, I don’t know exactly what the next chapter will look like. But I know this: I’d rather lead forty people who have prayerfully discerned God’s direction than a larger crowd that simply drifted into the future.

Personal Application

This experience reminded me that leadership isn’t always about persuading people. Sometimes it’s about slowing everyone down long enough to listen. In a culture that rewards quick decisions and confident predictions, leaders have an opportunity to model something different.

And perhaps that’s true far beyond church leadership. Whether you’re leading a business, a family, or simply trying to discern your own next step, the question isn’t first, “What should I do?” It’s:

“Lord, where are You already at work, and how are You inviting me to join You?”

Sometimes that question changes everything.

Following Jesus Should Feel Uncomfortable

I recently started doing stand-up comedy in Austin, TX. And I am a pastor. Which means most nights I am standing in a bar talking about my life, and at some point, people realize, “Wait… this guy is a pastor.” It creates a moment. You might be asking, “Why would a pastor do this?” You can read about it HERE and HERE.

Austin has become a major hub for comedy, with names like Shane Gillis, Joe Rogan, and Tony Hinchcliffe shaping the scene. The rooms are full, the crowds are sharp, and the conversations are often as unfiltered as you can imagine. So why step into that as a pastor? At some point, I had to decide whether following Jesus meant staying in environments where I naturally fit, or stepping into ones where I did not. Stand-up comedy made that decision unavoidable.

There is constant pressure in those rooms to blend in, to match the tone, to say what works, and to avoid being the one who shifts the atmosphere. But following Jesus has given me a different option. Instead of trying to manage perception, I can simply be honest. There have been plenty of moments where I have said something, or chosen not to say something, and it creates a pause. Not hostile, just noticeable. And in that space, there is nothing to fix. Just a quiet recognition that I am different.

That is not always persuasive, and it does not guarantee agreement, but it is clear. And clarity matters. Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel,” not because it always lands well, but because it is worth being known for. Jesus lived this way. He did not isolate Himself from the world, and He did not mirror it either. He entered into real places, real conversations, and real tension, while remaining anchored in who He was. He asked questions people were not asking, said things people were not expecting, and stayed present in environments where others might have pulled back.

Following Him means we will feel that same tension. Not because we are trying to stand out, but because we already do. What has been surprising to me is how often this creates opportunity. I have had conversations about a biblical view of marriage and sexuality, finances, some political conversations, and caring for those in need. It’s not because I am actively trying to drive conversations toward those topics, but that, at least in Austin, TX, there are people who are wondering and thinking about those topics today, and then out of a nowhere a follower of Jesus is dropped into their life.

In a few cases, other comedians have quietly shared that they follow Jesus too. Not on stage, not publicly, but they are there. And sometimes just being present and clear has caused them to reconsider what that actually means for their life and their work. That has been the unexpected part. Not influence through volume, but through presence.

So maybe the question is not whether you feel comfortable identifying as a follower of Jesus in your environment. Maybe the better question is where God has already placed you where that clarity would actually matter. Your workplace, your friendships, your neighborhood, or conversations you did not plan. People do not just need content about Jesus. They need to encounter people who actually follow Him. And that will almost always feel a little uncomfortable.

Doing stand up comedy as a follower of Jesus in Austin, TX

Followers of Jesus often face a tension when working in environments that are not shaped by Christian values. Comedy clubs, music venues, corporate settings, universities, and many other spaces raise the same question: How can someone be present in a culture without simply becoming a participant in it?

This question is especially important to me, because I work as a pastor in Austin, TX. My wife and I started the church in 2009, and at the time we had two little children, so it was easy to connect with young families in our neighborhood. By God’s grace we were able to enter into spiritual conversations with those families and for a season it resulted in men and women coming to faith and pop up bible studies. Sometimes we would have 12-15 adults in a living room looking at God’s Word with 30 kids running outside. It was wild!

Fast forward to 2024 and I did an open mic near our house at Cap City Comedy Club as a bucket list type of challenge. The experience went horrible. But for some reason, I wanted to keep trying. Eventually I started talking about being a pastor in a 3-minute comedy set, and 2 years later here I am. Usually 2-3 nights a week I will meet up with comedians and we will try to do our best at making people laugh.

But Austin, TX isn’t known for clean comedy. Austin actually has some nationally known comics in our city like Joe Rogan, Shane Gillis, Tony Hinchcliffe, and more. It isn’t exactly Nate Bargatze material on 6th on a weekend night, so what does that look like for me as a follower of Jesus?

The New Testament doesn’t call followers of Jesus to isolation, but it also doesn’t call them to blend into culture. Instead, it presents a third option known as “Faithful Presence.” Jesus entered ordinary public spaces. He ate with tax collectors, attended gatherings, and spent time with people who lived far from the religious center of society. Yet those around him consistently noticed something different about Him. His presence influenced the room rather than the room defining him.

The challenge for believers today is learning to discern whether they are participating in culture or bringing a distinct presence into culture. Several patterns can help make that distinction clearer.

1. Direction of Influence: Who’s influencing who?

A participant in culture gradually absorbs the values of the environment. Language, priorities, and assumptions begin to mirror the surrounding world. A presence in culture moves in the opposite direction. While remaining fully engaged, their posture, tone, and character introduce something different into the environment.

This doesn’t mean constant confrontation or overt religious messaging. Often it simply means that over time people notice a steadiness, humility, or integrity that stands apart from the surrounding culture. Jesus was often accused of spending time with sinners, yet the stories repeatedly show people being drawn toward change rather than Jesus being drawn into their patterns.

2. The Trajectory of One’s Work: What’s the tone of the work?

For anyone whose work involves creative expression, the work itself becomes revealing. In comedy, writing, music, or storytelling, the deeper worldview underneath the material eventually becomes visible.

When someone is a presence in culture, their work tends to humanize people. Humor exposes human weakness without celebrating cruelty. The tone may include honesty, self awareness, and humility.

When someone becomes a participant in culture, the work often begins drifting toward whatever the surrounding environment rewards most. Cynicism, degradation, or shock value can slowly become the easiest path to approval. Over time, the trajectory of the work often reveals the deeper direction of influence.

3. How Others Perceive You: Are you experiencing favor from others?

Another helpful indicator is how people within the culture describe you. A person functioning as a presence is often respected even by those who disagree with them. Others notice reliability, honesty, or a different moral center. They may not share the same beliefs, but they sense a consistency.

By contrast, someone who has become a participant in culture becomes indistinguishable from the surrounding environment. Their identity is primarily defined by the culture they inhabit rather than the deeper convictions that guide them.

4. Private Spiritual Vitality: Are you still growing in your faith?

Perhaps the clearest indicator is what happens privately. Scripture describes the life of the Spirit producing qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. When someone remains rooted in these realities, their internal life continues to deepen even while they live and work in challenging environments.

5. The Role of Community: Is there willingness to receive feedback?

The New Testament consistently places believers within community. Spiritual formation rarely happens in isolation. A presence in culture remains connected to people who can ask honest questions and offer perspective. Spiritual conversations continue. Others are able to speak into both life and work.

A participant in culture gradually shifts their primary feedback loop toward the surrounding environment. Career success, audience approval, or cultural status become the dominant voices shaping decisions.

6. The Question of Motivation: Does it become a distraction?

Motivation also reveals direction. A presence in culture is often driven by a desire to understand people and serve them well. There is curiosity about the human condition and a sense of stewardship for whatever platform or opportunity exists.

A participant in culture is often driven by a desire for belonging, approval, or recognition within the environment itself. Identity becomes increasingly tied to acceptance by the culture rather than faithfulness within it. Both motivations can coexist at times, but the direction that grows stronger over time becomes revealing.

7. Long Term Fruit: Is there spiritual curiosity from others?

Jesus frequently spoke about fruit as the ultimate measure of a life. Faithful presence often produces meaningful relationships and deeper conversations over time. People come to trust the person because they experience integrity and care.

Participation without discernment tends to produce deeper immersion in the same cultural patterns. The individual may achieve success within the environment but gradually lose spiritual clarity and distinctiveness.

Longterm Goal

For me, my work as a pastor hasn’t changed. I still want to gain trust and credibility to speak into the lives of the people in my life. I pray for those people. I look for ways to encourage them and support them in their pursuits. I look for opportunities to challenge them in ways they would be receptive. I consider it a privilege to be in their life, and I want to point them to Jesus in everything.

The “sermon” isn’t that different either. On Sunday morning it is more clear that I am taking God’s Word and going verse by verse to point people to the hope we have in Jesus, but in comedy my goal is still the same. I am trying to take biblical and cultural values and package them in a way that are hopefully comedic or at least insightful, so that the people who are listening might think more deeply about those areas of life. I can’t say I have mastered this, but I am continually trying to grow in this area.

In the end, pursuing this area of life has been a lot of fun. Our church family has been really supportive. Once a quarter we have been hosting Clean Comedy Shows for our community and partnering with a local non-profit where all the donations are given to them. Our next one will be in May. You should come!

What Do Pastors Do All Week?

Sometimes people will ask me, “What do pastors do all week?”  Afterall most people only see pastors on a Sunday morning but what about the rest of the week?  Surely pastors can’t work on sermons all week, right?  I have found this proverb to be helpful:

Proverbs 17:24, “Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.”

The easiest thing to do as a pastor is chase after the “squeaky wheel.”  There’s always a fire to put out.  There’s always something that is broken that needs to be fixed.  Sometimes a pastor could spend their whole week being really busy and being busy.  Here are some areas I have found helpful to focus on:

  • Sermon Preparation:  I spend about 10 hours a week on a sermon (2 hours a day.)  I have never preached a sermon and thought, “There is nothing else to study about this passage.”  I could easily spend 40 hours a week on a sermon.  It’s fun studying God’s Word and crafting God’s Word into a sermon but early on I prayed, “Father, help me to trust you to show up through my 10 hours of preparation.”
  • Leadership Development:  I spend about 10 hours a week on leadership development.  This includes meeting with new people, elders, volunteers, staff and setting aside time to think about where those people are and how to help them grow in Christ.
  • Vision:  I spend about 2 hours a week working on our vision as a church family and how our church is moving toward our vision.  
  • Meeting with People:  I spend about 10 hours a week meeting with people.
  • Reading:  I try to read a book a week.  A number of years ago I read a book called, “How To Read A Book.”  Isn’t that a funny title?  The author gave the encouragement that not every book is worth reading word for word, so most of the time I try to read books as fast as I can, so I can come across the books that are worth reading word for word.  
  • Prayer:  I do my own devotional time before I come to work.  Some pastors make their sermon prep their devotional time and sermon prep is personal for me but it’s always been important for me to keep these two separate so that I don’t blurr my relationship with God and my vocation as a pastor.  I typically spend about 2 hours a week in prayer.  
  • Administrative:  There are a lot of administrative tasks.  It might be sending emails, texts, blogs, phone calls, or organizing information.  I set aside 4 hours a week for administrative tasks.  Our new admin role at NVC has greatly reduced those hours, which I am very thankful for.
  • Ministry:  Most people work 40 hours at work and then volunteer additional hours for ministry, so in the same way, I try to work a 40 hour work week as a pastor and then the time I spend with neighbors, outreach, community group, or in the community are considered ministry hours.  This changes every semester but typically takes 8-12 hours in the week. 

Each semester I create a weekly schedule and plug in when and where I will work on those areas listed above.  It’s something I have done early on in ministry and found it to be really helpful. 

As a pastor, most of the work is spiritual or abstract in nature.  It isn’t often that I have the satisfaction of creating a “product” and seeing if that product was “successful” or not.  Therefore, having the structure of a schedule to know where I want to work, how I want to work and when I want to work provides the freedom to know when I can stop working.  

It doesn’t mean I will stop working as a pastor for the day but it means I will stop working on North Village Church things for the day.  I will meet with friends.  I will find a way to rest and relax.  I will spend time with my family.  And I will trust the Lord to do His work in me and through me for another day.