Trusting Jesus for Truth in an AI Age

Devotional

Day 1: God's Word is alive and judges hearts.

Hebrews 4 shows that Scripture is not static information but a living, active means by which God exposes and heals the inner life; it pierces beyond surface behavior to the thoughts and intentions beneath, revealing what AI, algorithms, or human cleverness can hide but cannot change—so when confusion about truth arises, turn to the Word that judges kindly and clearly to bring people back to their created, naked honesty before God. [30:29]

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Reflection: Look back over the last week and name one recurring thought or defensiveness you kept justifying; read Hebrews 4:12-13, ask God to show how that thought is exposed by Scripture, and write one honest sentence confessing what you see.

Day 2: Jesus is the living Word, fully divine.

John 1:1 teaches that the Word—Jesus—is not merely an idea or an improved information source but God himself present and active; that means truth is personal and relational, not a feed to curate, so when technology offers polished answers, remember that the Word who was with God and was God speaks into life and identity in ways AI cannot replicate. [33:29]

John 1:1 (ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Reflection: Identify one claim about your identity or worth you’ve been accepting from social media or AI; today speak aloud a short Scripture truth about who you are in Christ (e.g., “I am loved by God”) in place of that claim, and notice how saying it changes your inner posture.

Day 3: Jesus is the ultimate source of truth.

When Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life” it re-centers truth around relationship with him rather than around fluctuating opinions, trending narratives, or the latest technology; for life decisions and moral clarity, the primary question is not “what do the algorithms say?” but “do I trust Jesus enough to follow his way?”—and trusting him frees people from the anxious need to know everything on their own. [43:11]

John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Reflection: Think of one specific decision you’re weighing (job, relationship, move). Ask Jesus for clarity, then commit to one concrete next step this week that expresses trusting him (for example: call a trusted Christian mentor, apply or decline an offer, or visit the place you’re considering).

Day 4: Jesus identifies himself as eternal "I AM."

When Jesus declares “before Abraham was, I am,” he deliberately uses God’s eternal name to claim unchanging presence and authority, reminding listeners that amidst every cultural shift—technology, politics, or trends—Jesus is the uncreated constant who knows the heart and history of every person and is worthy of trust over any temporary source of “truth.” [48:08]

John 8:58 (ESV)
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Reflection: Where are you acting like your own authority—trying to control outcomes or define truth for yourself? Name one area, confess it to Jesus, and take one immediate step to surrender control (for example: delete one distracting app, un-follow one Influencer, or verbally tell a friend you need accountability).

Day 5: Trust relationship with Jesus over chasing information.

The sermon calls the congregation to submit the hunt for certainty to a person—Jesus—because like recovery’s higher power, surrendering control to God relieves the burden of trying to be the ultimate knower; a relationship with Christ lets truth become living guidance instead of a frantic, never-ending fact-checking exercise, freeing people to live obediently rather than anxiously. [51:29]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: Pick one habitual information-seeking behavior that feeds your anxiety (endless news checking, constant fact-checking, or compulsive opinion-scrolling). For the next 24 hours replace that habit with 10 minutes of Scripture and prayer and commit to one concrete act of obedience (call someone, make an amends, say yes or no) that trusts God with the outcome.

Sermon Summary

Every now and then we pause to look at what’s shaping our world so we can think Christianly about it. Today it was AI. I had a playful “guest” help us feel both the wonder and the unease many of us carry. I wasn’t trying to make anyone afraid, and I certainly wasn’t trying to baptize AI with some cheesy “God is the real AI” line. The deeper question is this: in a world where videos can be faked, voices cloned, and facts tailored, where do we anchor our lives to what is actually true?

We turned to Hebrews 4 and remembered that God’s word is alive and active—God-sourced truth, not open-source truth. Unlike the models we can train, prompt, and manipulate, Scripture judges our thoughts and attitudes. John calls Jesus “the Word,” and Jesus calls Himself “the Truth,” so the Word isn’t just ink on paper—it’s the living Christ who knows us, searches us, and lovingly tells us what is real. We can make AI say almost anything; we cannot make God anything other than who He is.

Hebrews also says nothing is hidden from God. Technology exposes a lot, but God sees even the things we only considered typing. Our lives leave “wrappers”—little traces of what we’ve done—and He already knows all of it. That’s not to shame us; it’s to invite us to trust Him, because the One who fully knows us is also the One who fully loves us.

Since Jesus is our great High Priest, we hold fast to Him. Discernment isn’t just for culture-war questions; it’s for decisions about work, marriage, kids, neighborhoods, and calling. This isn’t God versus AI; it’s God over everything. Our friends in recovery have taught us the gift of surrender—stop trying to be your own higher power and entrust your life to One who can carry it.

Finally, God revealed His name as “I AM”—the One who simply is. Jesus took that name on His lips: “Before Abraham was, I am.” God is uncreated, unending, and unchanging, which is why ancient words can still steady us today. The same God who forgave Moses, David, and the thief on the cross is with us now. Draw near to Him. The closer we are to Jesus, the clearer the truth becomes.

Key Takeaways

1. Scripture is God-sourced, not crowdsourced AI reflects what we feed it; Scripture reveals what God is. The Word doesn’t bend to our preferences; it bends us back toward reality. When we read the Bible, the Bible reads us—and that’s mercy, not menace. It’s how the Truth sets us free. [33:29]
2. Nothing is hidden from God Modern tools capture our clicks; God sees our hearts. He knows not only what we did, but what we wanted to do, and still invites us closer. Confession isn’t informing Him; it’s aligning with Him. Vulnerability before God becomes the doorway to peace. [36:28]
3. Truth is relational, not merely informational You don’t need omniscience to make wise choices; you need proximity to Jesus. As you walk with Him, the signal-to-noise ratio changes and clarity grows. Guidance becomes less about solving a puzzle and more about trusting a Person. Wisdom flows from communion, not just data. [43:11]
4. Surrender control to discern truth Recovery teaches that self-sufficiency can’t save us. The same is true for discernment—we submit our understanding to a wiser King. Surrender isn’t passivity; it’s active trust that God can lead better than we can manage. Let go of mastery to receive mercy. [45:49]
5. The I AM does not change In a world of rapid updates, God doesn’t patch or iterate—He is. Jesus’ “I am” means His character is steady enough to stake your life on. The same God who carried saints then, carries you now. Consistency in God births courage in us. [48:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Why We’re Talking About AI
[03:10] - Meet Grok: The Awkward Prayer
[05:30] - Not Panic, Not Platitudes
[08:40] - The Trouble: What’s True Anymore?
[12:15] - Scripture as God-Sourced Truth
[16:20] - Hebrews 4:12 Explained
[30:29] - Don’t Let AI Define Reality
[33:29] - Jesus, the Living Word, Judges
[36:28] - Nothing Hidden from God’s Sight
[39:36] - Our Sin Leaves Wrappers
[43:11] - Truth Requires Relationship with Jesus
[45:49] - Recovery Wisdom: Surrender Control
[48:08] - I AM: The Unchanging God
[51:29] - Draw Near; Let Truth Clarify

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Hebrews 4:12–16 — 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Observation Questions

Read Hebrews 4:12. What does the phrase “living and active” suggest about how Scripture interacts with a person’s inner life (not just with facts or opinions)?
Hebrews 4:13 says “all are naked and exposed.” In the sermon the pastor used the candy-wrapper story to illustrate this idea—what part of that story helped explain the verse? [39:36]
Verses 14–16 call Jesus our great High Priest and invite us to “hold fast” and “draw near.” What concrete contrasts does the passage set up between relying on a person (or a tool) for answers and relying on Jesus?
In the sermon the pastor demonstrated how AI can be prompted to say almost anything. What examples from that interaction show the difference between “open-source” answers and God-sourced truth? [36:28]

Interpretation Questions

How should one understand the claim that the Word “judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12) when many modern sources present tailored or manipulated information? What tensions arise for someone who trusts both technology and Scripture? [33:29]
The pastor said our sin “leaves wrappers” and used that to explain Hebrews 4:13. How does that metaphor shape an interpretation of confession and accountability—does it change what it means to be “exposed” before God? [39:36]
The sermon linked recovery teaching about surrender to spiritual discernment. What does it mean, practically, for a person to “surrender control” of their search for truth to Jesus rather than trying to be their own higher power? [45:49]
The pastor emphasized God’s name “I AM” as proof of God’s unchanging character. How does an emphasis on God’s unchangeableness affect a person’s trust in biblical guidance amid rapidly changing cultural and technological landscapes? [48:08]

Application Questions

Make a short list of three digital or media sources you rely on for “what’s true” (news sites, social media feeds, AI tools, podcasts). This week, pick one piece of content from that list and test it against Scripture (Heb. 4:12–13). What did you learn, and what will you do differently next time?
Think of a current decision you’re facing (job, move, relationship, college, parenting, etc.). How have you been using data, opinion, or technology to decide? What is one concrete step you will take this week to involve prayer, Scripture, or a trusted Christian mentor in that decision? [43:11]
Identify one “wrapper” (a hidden habit, guilty pleasure, secret search history, or private decision) you’re carrying. Name a specific next step toward transparency: who will you tell, what will you confess, and what practical accountability will you arrange this week? [39:36]
Choose one area where you try to be your own higher power (control over outcomes, planning, perfectionism). What is one concrete act of surrender to practice this week (e.g., a short daily prayer of handing it to God, telling a friend you need help, stopping a controlling habit)? [45:49]
Pick one concrete habit to increase “proximity to Jesus” over the next seven days (examples: read Hebrews 4:12–16 each morning, meet with a friend for prayer, attend a midweek study, silence notifications for 30 minutes to pray). What will you do, and when will you do it?
Because the pastor showed how easily AI can be prompted to say false things, set one new digital boundary for seven days (examples: pause before sharing anything that hasn’t been verified, limit AI use for personal advice, enable two sources of verification before believing a viral post). Which boundary will you choose and how will you enforce it? [36:28]

Sermon Clips

You can hide from every person, every camera, every algorithm but you cannot hide from God. I can lie to AI, it can lie to me, I can tell it what to say but it was created by humans to serve humans, we were created by God to serve God, nothing is hidden from God. Parents in the room can kind of relate, you always find out what your kids did, right, sometimes you wish you didn't know but you always find out. [00:38:39] (30 seconds) #NothingHiddenFromGod

Here's the thing, our sin leaves wrappers, our sin leaves little traces, the things that we do leave little traces and here's the thing, God knows what it is that we did and and the point isn't that like you should worry he's always watching like Santa, he knows when you've been naughty, the point isn't that, the point is that he already knows it all so you might as well trust him, you might as well follow him, you might as well rely on him, he already knows it, the stuff that you're shamed of, guess what, he knows that and he still loves. [00:41:24] (37 seconds) #KnownAndLoved

A relationship with Jesus is the most important thing when it comes to discerning those truths. This isn't God versus AI, this is just God over everything, God over your fears, God over your jobs, God over your relationships. Do you trust God enough for him to give you the answers, do you trust God enough for him to be the one to pull through for your life? [00:44:52] (33 seconds) #TrustGodForTruth

Here's the great part with the relationship with God, you don't have to stress about knowing all the things and finding all the answers, you just trust him, you just rely on him. Our church has kind of become like a recovery church, we love that about ourselves, we host a lot of different AA meetings throughout the week and because of that we have a lot of people that are here in our church that are in recovery and because of that I've I've like developed some like some of my closest friends. [00:45:27] (31 seconds) #RecoveryAndGrace

At some point you have to submit to something, at some point you have to give up control, in recovery it's I'm saying hey listen I'm not gonna let it be up to me to get sober, I'm going to trust something bigger than me, now we we point people to God, we point people to Jesus here, but I'm gonna trust something over them, over me to help me with this, the same goes with truth, the same goes with truth, you don't have to be the one to say like I'm gonna know it all, I'm gonna figure it all out, submit to God, trust God for that truth. [00:46:26] (35 seconds) #SurrenderToGod

So then what do I do with my fear, what do I do with my worry, here's the thing, the world changes but God is still the same, no matter what technology changes, nations change, political power changes, it's all changed, it think of how much has changed for like over the last few decades but it's been changing for for thousands and thousands of years but God has stayed the same. [00:47:01] (39 seconds) #GodNeverChanges

The reason why they wanted to kill Jesus was because he used God's name for himself, I am, he could use some of those other names right, he could use some of these other names but he chose I am, he chose his personal one and here's what I love about it, he chose the one that refers the most to his consistency, the fact that God is always and is still the same, no beginning, no end, the uncreated one, God is still the same. [00:50:01] (41 seconds) #EverlastingIAm

That's why we can look at scripture from 2,000 years ago and apply it in the same ways today because it is still the same God, like his word is still the same, the same God that that loves you and knows you and has forgiven you is still the same God. How do I know that that he feels that way about you? Because he's the same God that forgave Moses after he murdered somebody, because he's the same God that forgave David after his affair, he's the same God that forgave the thief on the cross. [00:50:41] (41 seconds) #TimelessScripture

``That same God knows you, loves you and has forgiven you, same God that spoke the world into existence, the same God that knows every single hair on your head, the same God that has brought you peace and trouble, that's the same God that we worship here every Sunday morning. Would you guys stand as we close as we get ready to worship, I want to remind you guys the best way to discern truth is to have a relationship with Jesus and the closer you are to him the clearer the truth is. [00:51:22] (45 seconds) #CloserToJesus

The closer we are to him the more the truth is revealed to us, the same God that has done all the wonders in the Bible is for you so don't fear about the future, don't fear about technology or AI, put your faith and trust in Jesus because he is the same God. [00:52:15] (21 seconds) #FaithNotFear

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