Outline - DMC AI Discipleship Course

Module 01

Foundational Mindset

5 lessons, 5-8 minutes each

Learning Goals

Understand your irreplaceable role as the "conductor" while AI serves as your "orchestra"
Develop a theological framework for viewing AI as a ministry tool, not a threat
Recognize when and how AI can accelerate ministry work while maintaining authenticity

Lesson 1.1: You Are the Orchestra Conductor

The orchestra metaphor: God writes the music, you conduct, AI is your orchestra
Understanding your irreplaceable role in ministry
Why AI will never replace pastoral leadership

Lesson 1.2: AI as a Ministry Accelerator

The biggest technological breakthrough since the internet
How AI creates opportunities for small churches
Freeing up time for people-focused ministry

Lesson 1.3: Thinking Theologically About AI

We are created in the image of God
AI's role in God's restoration of creation
Addressing fears and concerns from a faith perspective

Lesson 1.4: The 50/30/20 Rule Overview

First 50%: Clear prompting and project knowledge
Next 30%: AI generation and refinement
Final 20%: Your unique human touch and authenticity
Why each phase matters

Lesson 1.5: Using AI Responsibly in Ministry

Practical considerations every ministry leader should know
When AI is helpful vs. when it's inappropriate
Maintaining authenticity and accuracy
A practitioner's perspective on responsible use (not an ethics deep dive)

Module 02

AI Tool Selection & Setup

5 lessons, 5-8 minutes each

Learning Goals

Choose the right AI tool (ChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Gemini) based on your specific ministry needs
Set up your first AI Project with proper organization for sustainable use
Understand the cost-benefit of free vs. paid versions to make informed budget decisions

Lesson 2.1: Choosing Your AI Tool

ChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Gemini: strengths and differences
When to use each tool for different ministry tasks
Why Claude is recommended for content creation

Lesson 2.2: Free vs. Paid: What You Really Need

Feature comparison: free vs. $20/month versions
Cost-benefit analysis for church budgets
When free tools are sufficient vs. when to upgrade

Lesson 2.3: Account Setup & First Steps

Step-by-step account creation walkthrough
Understanding the interface and basic navigation
Mobile app vs. desktop: pros and cons for ministry work

Lesson 2.4: Understanding Projects (Custom GPTs)

What are Projects in Claude (Custom GPTs in ChatGPT)?
Why Projects transform AI effectiveness
When to create a new Project vs. using general chat

Lesson 2.5: Your First Project Setup

Creating your first ministry-focused Project
Naming and organizing multiple Projects
Best practices for Project management

Module 03

The Power of Project Knowledge

5 lessons, 5-8 minutes each

Learning Goals

Create a comprehensive Voice Guide that captures your church's identity and communication style
Develop Custom Instructions that teach AI to write in your personal voice
Build and maintain a Project Knowledge library that makes AI output consistently relevant

Lesson 3.1: The Three Components of Effective Projects

Voice Guide: Your church's identity and style
Custom Instructions: Your personal writing voice
Project Knowledge: Reference documents and examples

Lesson 3.2: Creating Your Church Voice Guide

Step-by-step walkthrough: Purpose, Mission, Vision
Defining Values, Goals, and Distinctives
Capturing your Writing Tone & Voice and Approach
Downloadable template and examples

Lesson 3.3: Capturing Your Personal Writing Style

Finding existing content you've written (sermons, emails, articles)
Using AI to analyze your style
Creating Custom Instructions that capture your voice
Testing and refining until it sounds like you

Lesson 3.4: Building Your Project Knowledge Library

What documents to upload (examples, manuscripts, brand guides)
File formats and organization strategies
How AI references this knowledge when creating content

Lesson 3.5: Maintaining and Updating Your Projects

When to update your Voice Guide and Custom Instructions
Adding new reference documents over time
Managing multiple Projects for different ministry areas

Module 04

Prompting Like a Pro

5 lessons, 5-8 minutes each

Learning Goals

Master the P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework to write clear, specific prompts that get quality results
Apply both freeflow and structured prompting formats for different ministry contexts
Refine AI output through conversational iteration to achieve your desired outcome

Lesson 4.1: Why Specificity is Everything

The #1 rule: AI needs clear, specific direction
Common mistakes that lead to poor results
The mindset shift: clarity for you = clarity for AI

Lesson 4.2: The P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework - Part 1

Purpose: What are you doing and why?
Audience: Who is your target audience?
Style: What style, tone, and perspective?
Examples of each element in action

Lesson 4.3: The P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework - Part 2

Task: What are the specific details of your request?
Orientation: What examples or context can you provide?
Rules: What are the essential do's and don'ts?
When to include vs. skip certain elements

Lesson 4.4: Writing Effective Prompts

Freeflow format: Natural paragraph style
Structured format: Organized with tags
When to use each format
Real examples from ministry contexts

Lesson 4.5: Refining Through Conversation

AI as your digital intern: giving feedback naturally
Examples of refinement requests that work
When to start over vs. when to keep refining
Building your personal prompt library for reuse

Module 05

Practical Ministry Applications

15 lessons, 5-8 minutes each

Learning Goals

Transform sermon content into multiple formats for email, social media, and web
Generate quality content for pastoral care, volunteer management, and event promotion
Use AI as a brainstorming partner to overcome creative blocks and develop new ministry initiatives

Lesson 5.1: Sermon Preparation & Research

Using AI for sermon research and background
Generating sermon outlines and structure
Finding illustrations and contemporary examples
What AI cannot do in sermon prep

Lesson 5.2: Sermon to Multi-Platform Content

Transforming one sermon into 10+ pieces of content
Email summaries for your congregation
Social media posts and quote graphics
Blog posts and devotional content

Lesson 5.3: Email Newsletters (Internal Communication)

Weekly church updates that people actually read
Event reminders with all essential details
Follow-up emails that encourage next steps
Using the Scanability Index with AI

Lesson 5.4: Email Marketing (External Engagement)

Lead magnets and downloadable resources
Weekly inspiration emails for community outreach
Curated content emails (3-2-1 format)
Building your email list through value

Lesson 5.5: Social Media Content Creation

Turning long-form content into social posts
Caption writing that sounds human, not AI
Behind-the-scenes and community content ideas
Platform-specific optimization (Instagram vs. Facebook)

Lesson 5.6: Event Promotion & Marketing

Event announcements that capture attention
Multi-touchpoint campaigns (email, social, website)
Registration page copy and CTAs
Post-event follow-up and testimonial requests

Lesson 5.7: Website Content & Updates

Homepage copy that clearly communicates your UVP
About page that tells your church's story
Ministry and program descriptions
Blog posts and resource pages

Lesson 5.8: Small Group & Study Materials

Discussion guides for small groups
Study questions that promote deep conversation
Devotional content for daily use
Curriculum adaptation and supplementation

Lesson 5.9: Children's & Youth Ministry Content

Age-appropriate lesson summaries for parents
Activity ideas and discussion starters
Volunteer training materials
Parent communication and engagement

Lesson 5.10: Pastoral Care Communications

Sympathy and encouragement notes (with authenticity)
Hospital visit follow-ups
Prayer requests and updates
When to use AI vs. when to write from scratch

Lesson 5.11: Volunteer Recruitment & Management

Job descriptions that inspire action
Volunteer appreciation messages
Training materials and handbooks
Schedule reminders and coordination emails

Lesson 5.12: Stewardship & Fundraising

Giving campaign messaging
Testimonial and impact story frameworks
Thank you letters and donor appreciation
Budget presentations and financial updates

Lesson 5.13: Worship Service Planning

Service flow and liturgy development
Prayer writing and adaptation
Responsive reading creation
Worship theme and series planning

Lesson 5.14: Administrative & Communication Templates

Staff meeting agendas and notes
Policy and procedure documents
FAQs for common questions
Automated responses and standard replies

Lesson 5.15: Brainstorming & Creative Ideation

Using AI as a brainstorming partner
Generating sermon series ideas
Event concepts and ministry initiatives
Problem-solving and strategic planning
Overcoming creative blocks

AI for Ministry Leaders

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