---
name: ft-discern-christian-app-idea
description: Help someone discern whether and how to build a Christian app through heart alignment, values, and practical guardrails. Covers the Surrender-Scour-Synergize-Sow-Share framework for app idea discernment and the faith.tools selection criteria for quality and doctrinal alignment. Includes the 5 AI rules at a heart level. Use when someone has an app idea for Christians, wants to know what a Christian app should embody, or is deciding whether to build at all. Not a technical implementation guide — focuses on discernment, posture, and values before writing code.
metadata:
  fruit: faithfulness
---

# Discern a Christian App Idea

Help someone decide whether to build a Christian app, and if so, what it should embody. This is pre-work — before code, before architecture. Heart-level and values-level.

## Phase 1: Should I Build?

Walk through the Surrender → Scour → Synergize → Sow → Share framework.

Read `references/app-idea-journey.md` for the full journey, including a surrender prayer, practical search guidance, and an open-handed posture toward collaboration.

Key posture: surrender the idea to God first. Scour to see if it already exists. Synergize before building solo. Sow with diligence. Share the story.

## Phase 2: What Should It Embody?

Once someone decides to build, what values and standards should shape the app?

Read `references/selection-criteria.md` for the 10 faith.tools selection criteria, the heart behind each one, and common pitfalls to avoid (Therapeutic Deism, Health/Wealth Gospel, Cheap Grace, Legalism).

Key posture: excellence honors God. Transparency in pricing. Safeguarding from harmful content. Doctrinal alignment. Serving the global Church, not just one congregation.

## If the App Uses AI

If the app includes AI-generated content, there are additional expectations. The 5 unofficial rules for AI apps are covered at a heart level in the selection criteria reference.

For implementation guidance (Bible APIs, system prompt templates, MCP servers, RAG setup), load the `ft-build-christian-ai-guardrails` skill: https://skills.sh/cameronapak/jstack

## References

- `references/app-idea-journey.md` — The Surrender→Share framework with prayers, search guidance, and the open-handed collaboration posture
- `references/selection-criteria.md` — The 10 selection criteria, common pitfalls, and the heart behind why these standards exist