You’re putting the finishing touches on Sunday’s sermon when you realize you need a visual illustration. The parable of the sower would be so much clearer with an image. The story about faith moving mountains needs something that captures the emotional weight of the moment.
But finding the right image means scrolling through stock photo sites for thirty minutes, settling for something generic that doesn’t quite fit, or worse—using an image you don’t have the rights to use. There’s got to be a better way.
That’s where AI image generators come in. These tools can create custom sermon illustrations in seconds, tailored specifically to your message. But with so many options available in 2025, which platforms are actually worth your time? More importantly, which ones are safe for church use from a copyright perspective?
Let me walk you through three of the best AI image generators for creating sermon illustrations: Google’s Gemini Nano Banana (the newest and most buzz-worthy option), ChatGPT’s DALL-E 3, and Midjourney. I’ll show you what makes each one unique and what you need to know before you start using them.
Why visual illustrations matter for your sermons
Before we dive into the tools, let’s acknowledge something important: you didn’t get into ministry to become a graphic designer. But you also know that visual elements help your congregation connect with biblical truth in powerful ways.
A well-chosen image can clarify a difficult concept, create an emotional connection, or help people remember a key point weeks after they’ve heard your sermon. In our visually-driven culture, people expect to see concepts, not just hear about them.
The challenge has always been finding or creating these images without spending hours you don’t have. AI image generators solve that problem—but they also create new questions about quality, appropriateness, and legal use.
What to look for in an AI image generator for ministry
Not all AI image generators are created equal, especially when it comes to church use. Here’s what matters most:
Image quality and realism. You need images that look professional and polished, not obviously AI-generated. Your congregation should focus on the message, not wonder where the weird picture came from.
Ease of use. You don’t have time for a steep learning curve. The best tools understand natural language and deliver good results without complex technical knowledge.
Commercial use rights. This is critical. Some platforms have murky terms about how you can use their images. For church use (including projection, bulletins, social media, and websites), you need clarity on usage rights.
Appropriate content filters. The last thing you need is an AI tool generating inappropriate images. Look for platforms with strong content moderation.
Cost and value. Most small churches can’t justify hundreds of dollars monthly for an image tool. The right platform should fit your budget while delivering quality results.
The best AI image generators for sermon illustrations
After testing these platforms and considering the unique needs of church ministry, here are three excellent options for creating sermon illustrations in 2025.
Google Gemini Nano Banana: Best for getting started free
Cost: Free (approximately 100 images per day) or Gemini Advanced subscription ($20/month for higher limits)
Gemini Nano Banana (officially called Gemini 2.5 Flash Image) has taken the internet by storm since its launch in late August 2025. It’s Google’s state-of-the-art image generation and editing model, and it’s integrated right into the Gemini app you may already be using.
Why it works for sermons: Nano Banana is incredibly easy to use—just open Gemini and ask it to create an image using natural language. The real standout feature is its image editing capability. You can upload a photo and ask Gemini to modify it, blend multiple images together, or maintain consistent characters across a series of images. For sermon series where you want visual continuity, this is powerful.
Best for: Pastors on a budget who want to try AI image generation without paying anything upfront. Great for editing existing images, creating variations of the same scene, and maintaining character consistency across multiple images.
Example use: “Create a photorealistic image of a shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulders at sunset, warm golden lighting” or upload a stock photo and say “Change the background to a mountain landscape, keep everything else the same.”
How to access it: Just go to gemini.google.com or use the Gemini app on your phone. Ask Gemini to create or edit an image, and it automatically uses Nano Banana. No special setup required.
Limitations: The free tier limits you to roughly 100 images per day (though Google doesn’t publish exact numbers—it depends on server load). Image quality is excellent but may not be quite as cinematic as Midjourney. The legal landscape around commercial use is still evolving.
Important: Understanding the watermark. All images created with Nano Banana include both a visible watermark and an invisible SynthID digital watermark to identify them as AI-generated. This is actually good for transparency in church settings.
Commercial use considerations: Google’s terms generally allow commercial use if you comply with their policies and applicable laws. However, like all AI-generated images, there’s legal uncertainty around copyright ownership. Always conduct a final review before using images in high-value contexts (like printed materials or large campaigns). Read more at Google’s Terms of Service.
ChatGPT (DALL-E 3): Best for ease of use and integration
Cost: $20/month (ChatGPT Plus) or limited free tier (2-3 images per day)
If you’re already using ChatGPT for sermon prep, you already have access to DALL-E 3. This makes it one of the most convenient options for pastors who are integrating AI into their workflow. The integration means you can have a conversation with ChatGPT about what you need, and it will help refine your description before generating the image.
Why it works for sermons: DALL-E 3 excels at understanding complex prompts and creating realistic, polished images. It’s particularly good at generating images with text elements (like graphics with scripture verses) and photorealistic scenes. Because it’s part of ChatGPT, you can iterate conversationally—”Make it more dramatic” or “Add warmer lighting”—without starting from scratch.
Best for: Contemporary scenes, realistic people, images with text overlays, pastors who want an all-in-one tool for both text generation and image creation.
Example use: “Create a photorealistic image of a father embracing his adult son at sunset, representing the prodigal son parable. Warm, emotional lighting. Make the father’s expression show both joy and relief.”
How to access it: If you have ChatGPT Plus, just ask ChatGPT to create an image. It will automatically use DALL-E 3. You can also access DALL-E 3 through Microsoft’s Bing Image Creator for free, though with more limited daily generations.
Limitations: The free tier only offers 2-3 images per day, which may not be enough for sermon prep. Default images are square; you need to specify if you want different aspect ratios. Images are smaller than Midjourney’s by default.
Privacy note: Images created in ChatGPT are private by default, which is actually ideal for church use. They won’t be visible to other users unless you explicitly share them.
Commercial use: OpenAI grants ChatGPT Plus users full rights to use DALL-E 3 images for commercial purposes, including church services, social media, and publications. This is one of the clearest commercial use policies in the industry. Read OpenAI’s terms for complete details.
Midjourney: Best for stunning, cinematic quality
Cost: $10-$120/month (no free tier currently available)
Midjourney consistently produces the most visually breathtaking images in the AI space. If you’ve seen stunning AI-generated art online, there’s a good chance it came from Midjourney. The images have a cinematic, artistic quality that can add genuine emotional depth to your sermon illustrations.
Why it works for sermons: When you need an image that creates atmosphere and stirs emotion—like depicting heaven, spiritual warfare, or biblical narratives—Midjourney delivers images that feel almost like they could be from a film. The lighting, composition, and artistic interpretation are noticeably superior to most competitors. For moments when your sermon needs a truly powerful visual, Midjourney is worth the investment.
Best for: Biblical scenes with dramatic lighting, metaphorical concepts (faith as a mountain, hope as an anchor), worship backgrounds, anything requiring artistic interpretation, churches that prioritize visual excellence.
Example use: “A person standing at a crossroads in a misty forest, dramatic lighting, cinematic composition, representing life choices, photorealistic, 8k quality”
How to access it: Sign up at midjourney.com. Midjourney originally worked only through Discord, but now has a web interface. You type prompts into the interface and receive four image variations to choose from.
Limitations: Requires a paid subscription with no free trial currently available (this changes periodically, so check their site). The interface has a learning curve—you’ll need to learn some specific parameters for best results. Images are public by default unless you upgrade to a Pro or Mega plan with “Stealth Mode.”
Important privacy note: If your sermon topic is sensitive, be aware that your image prompts and results will be visible to other Midjourney users unless you’re on a higher-tier plan ($60+/month). For most sermon illustrations about general biblical topics, this isn’t an issue, but it’s worth knowing.
Commercial use: Paid Midjourney subscribers receive commercial use rights for their generated images. Review Midjourney’s terms of service for complete information.
Comparing the three platforms: Which is right for you?
Each platform has clear strengths depending on your needs and budget:
Choose Gemini Nano Banana if: You want to start free, need to create many images quickly, want to edit existing photos, or need character consistency across a sermon series. Best for budget-conscious churches and pastors just getting started with AI image generation.
Choose ChatGPT (DALL-E 3) if: You’re already using ChatGPT for sermon prep and want an integrated workflow, need realistic photographic images, want conversational refinement of your images, or need images with text. Best for pastors who value convenience and clear commercial rights.
Choose Midjourney if: Visual excellence is a priority for your church, you need cinematic and emotionally powerful images, you’re illustrating dramatic biblical narratives, or your congregation responds strongly to artistic visuals. Best for churches with budget for premium tools and a focus on visual worship experiences.
My recommendation for most pastors: Start with Gemini Nano Banana to experiment with AI image generation at no cost. If you find yourself hitting the daily limits or wanting better quality, upgrade to ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) for the best balance of quality, ease of use, and clear commercial rights. Add Midjourney later if you need truly exceptional visual quality for special sermon series.
Important considerations for church use
Before you start generating images for your sermons, there are some critical things you need to understand about AI-generated images and copyright law.
The copyright situation (it’s complicated)
Here’s what you need to know: AI-generated images cannot be copyrighted in the United States because they lack human authorship. This has been clarified by multiple court decisions and the U.S. Copyright Office throughout 2025.
What does this mean practically?
You can use AI-generated images from these platforms for your church services, social media, websites, and publications—the platforms grant you that right through their terms of service. But you can’t claim exclusive copyright protection over a pure AI output. Someone else could theoretically generate an identical or very similar image and use it too.
For sermon illustrations, this is rarely a problem. Uniqueness isn’t your concern—communicating God’s word clearly is.
More important is the usage license from the AI platform itself. Each platform has different terms about how you can use the images they generate. This is why I’ve included links to each platform’s terms of service above.
Training data concerns
Most AI image generators (including all three discussed here) were trained on massive datasets containing copyrighted images from across the internet. This raises two concerns:
Ethical concerns: Many of these images were used without permission from the original artists. As church leaders, we should care about this. It’s worth asking: Are we comfortable using tools built on potentially unethical practices?
Legal risks: There’s a possibility that AI-generated images could inadvertently resemble copyrighted content, creating potential infringement issues. While the major platforms have filters to prevent obvious copying, the risk isn’t zero.
What this means for you: Always review images carefully before use. If an image looks suspiciously similar to a well-known artwork, logo, or photograph, don’t use it. Choose a different generation instead.
Modifying AI images strengthens your position
If you edit an AI-generated image—adjusting colors, adding text, combining multiple images, or making substantial modifications—you may be able to claim copyright on the final work because you’ve added human creativity.
For sermon slides where you’re adding scripture text, church branding, and design elements anyway, this isn’t just a good legal idea—it makes better visuals. The AI gives you a starting point; you make it truly fit your message and context.
Best practices for creating sermon illustrations with AI
Now that you know the tools, here’s how to use them effectively for your sermons.
Write better prompts
The quality of your image depends heavily on your prompt. Here’s a simple formula that works across all three platforms:
[Subject] + [Action/Pose] + [Setting/Context] + [Lighting/Mood] + [Style/Quality]
Example:
"A shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulders, walking through green rolling hills at sunrise, warm golden hour lighting, photorealistic style, cinematic composition"
Another example:
"Two hands clasped in prayer, close-up shot, soft window light from the left, peaceful atmosphere, shallow depth of field, high quality photography"Be specific about what you don’t want. Include phrases like “no text,” “no logos,” or “no cartoon style” to avoid unwanted elements.
Iterate quickly. Your first generation probably won’t be perfect. That’s normal. Try variations: change the lighting, adjust the perspective, or refine the emotional tone. With Gemini and ChatGPT, you can have a conversation about improvements. With Midjourney, you’ll generate new variations.
Match your church’s context
Consider your congregation when generating images. If your church is multicultural, ensure your images reflect diversity. If your congregation is primarily older adults, highly stylized or abstract images might not connect as well as straightforward realistic ones.
Think about your church’s aesthetic too. A contemporary church might love Midjourney’s cinematic style. A traditional congregation might prefer ChatGPT’s more straightforward realism. A casual, contemporary church might appreciate Gemini’s versatile approach.
Always review before you use
AI can sometimes generate unexpected or problematic results. Before putting any image on your screen Sunday morning, check it carefully:
- Are hands and faces realistic? (AI still sometimes struggles with hands—avoid close-ups of hands unless they look correct)
- Does the image accurately represent what you’re teaching?
- Is there anything that could be misinterpreted, culturally insensitive, or distracting?
- Does it maintain the dignity and seriousness of the biblical text?
- Could it inadvertently resemble copyrighted content?
Keep prompt records
Save your successful prompts. When you create an image that works well, document the exact prompt you used. This builds your personal library of effective prompts and saves time when you need similar images in the future.
Create a simple document or note where you store prompts organized by topic: “Parables,” “Worship,” “Community,” “Biblical Narratives,” etc.
Don’t replace personal stories
AI images work great for concepts, biblical scenes, and metaphors. But they should never replace authentic personal stories or real photography of your church community. The most powerful illustrations often come from your own congregation’s experiences.
Use AI for biblical illustrations and conceptual visuals. Use real photos for stories about your church family.
Getting started: Your first sermon illustration
If you’re ready to try creating your first AI-generated sermon illustration, here’s a simple workflow to get started:
Step 1: Choose your platform
For most pastors just starting out, I recommend beginning with Gemini Nano Banana. It’s free, easy to access, and gives you plenty of daily generations to experiment. Go to gemini.google.com and you’re ready to start.
If you’re already paying for ChatGPT Plus, use that instead—you already have access to excellent image generation.
Save Midjourney for later if you discover you need premium visual quality and have the budget.
Step 2: Identify your need
Look at your upcoming sermon. What concept would benefit from a visual? Don’t force it—not every sermon needs AI-generated images. But when you have a concept that would be clearer with a visual, that’s your opportunity.
Write down what you need in simple terms before you try to create a prompt.
Step 3: Create your first prompt
Use the formula above: Subject + Action + Setting + Lighting + Style. Start simple and refine from there.
For Gemini or ChatGPT, you can just describe what you want conversationally: “I need an image for a sermon about the prodigal son. Can you create a photorealistic image of a father embracing his adult son at sunset, with warm emotional lighting?”
Step 4: Generate and iterate
Most platforms will give you results quickly. Evaluate what you get:
- Is it close to what you envisioned?
- What needs to change?
- Would different lighting or perspective work better?
Then ask for variations. This is a creative process—give yourself permission to experiment. You’re not bothering the AI by asking for changes.
Step 5: Edit and finalize
Import your chosen image into your presentation software (PowerPoint, Keynote, ProPresenter, etc.). Add your sermon title, scripture text, or other elements. Adjust the image brightness or contrast if needed to ensure text is readable.
Remember: editing the AI output improves the final product and may strengthen your position regarding usage rights.
Important reminders about AI and ministry
As you integrate AI image generation into your sermon prep, keep these principles in mind:
AI is a tool, not a shortcut to faithfulness. These tools save time creating visuals, but they don’t replace the hard work of exegesis, prayer, and pastoral wisdom. Use the time you save on image searching to deepen your study and prayer life.
Maintain theological integrity. Just because you can generate an image doesn’t mean you should. Make sure your illustrations serve the text, not the other way around. An impressive image that distorts your message or draws attention to itself is worse than no image at all.
Be transparent when helpful. If someone asks about your visuals or you’re training other leaders, be honest that you used AI to create them. There’s no shame in using helpful tools. You’re stewarding your time and resources well.
Stay updated on terms of service. AI platforms change their policies. Check terms of service periodically, especially if your church uses images in printed materials, merchandise, or any context beyond typical worship services.
Consider your witness. How you use technology reflects your church’s values. Use AI in ways that honor both biblical principles and creative professionals. Don’t dismiss concerns about how these tools were trained—listen to artists and take their concerns seriously.
Prioritize authenticity. These tools are for illustration, not for replacing genuine human creativity and connection. Your personal stories, your congregation’s testimonies, and authentic photographs of your church family will always carry more weight than AI-generated images.
Moving forward with AI sermon illustrations
AI image generators have made it possible for any pastor to create custom, high-quality sermon illustrations without design skills or hours of searching. Whether you choose Gemini Nano Banana for its free access and editing capabilities, ChatGPT for its ease of use and clear commercial rights, or Midjourney for its stunning cinematic quality, you now have powerful tools that can enhance your preaching.
Start with one platform this week. Create a few images for your next sermon or sermon series. See how your congregation responds. You’ll likely find that thoughtful visual illustrations help your teaching connect in ways that words alone sometimes don’t.
But remember the goal: it’s not to become a professional designer or to have the flashiest visuals. The goal is to communicate God’s word as clearly and effectively as possible to the people you’re called to serve. If AI image generators help you do that while giving you back time for prayer, study, and pastoral care, then they’re tools worth using wisely.
What sermon are you preparing right now that could benefit from a custom illustration? Open Gemini or ChatGPT this week and try generating your first image. You might be surprised at how quickly you can create something that genuinely enhances your message—and how much time you save that you can invest back into what matters most in ministry.