February 11, 2026

Dear Friends,

This week one man prayed with me according to the pattern of Luke 18:13 & Romans 10:9.

I met him at church a few weeks ago when he attended the college Bible study; he had a hard copy of the Bible with him. That is less common among young people these days, since many use their smartphones. He is a computer coder in his 30s. He again came to the Bible study and lunch this week.

He wanted to ask me about my thoughts on AI, so I sat with him as we ate. As we spoke, he wondered whether AI was part of the evolutionary process and whether AI would displace humans in the evolutionary chain, thereby replacing humans on Earth. I told him that some people suggest that, but I do not buy it since the descendants of Adam have been made in the image of God, while Optimus (Tesla’s humanoid robots) and the AI bots have not. Furthermore, Jesus died for the biological descendants of Adam. Hence, as believers, we have no worries about such things, while unbelievers are beset by them.

He seemed bewildered by my response. So, I asked him, “How did you come to the Lord? Tell me your story.” Things got murky very quickly. As for the resurrection, he said that sometimes he believes it and at other times he does not. I said, “So where do you stand on that today?” He was uncommitted. So I told him that I am going to get all that resolved for him today. Over the next hour, I opened the gospel to him, spending most of the time on the resurrection of the Son of God. He prayed with me at the end and committed to completing the daily scripture reading and the 13-week study in “Growing in Christ” with a mentor. 

I recall a story by Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon was preaching in another man’s congregation, and Spurgeon delivered a gospel/salvation message. The minister of that church scolded Spurgeon afterwards, saying that such a message was unnecessary because all the members of that congregation were already saved. Spurgeon remarked in his book something to the effect: The poor minister himself was probably not saved. 

I, too, chuckled when I read that. Indeed, the presumption that all church attendees are saved is sophomoric.

Acts 2:37-38
“Brethren, what shall we do?”
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

We must preach that word! And be vigilant to ensure the unsaved in our churches are regularly challenged with the salvation message.

God bless,

Dr. James Tour