Results
During the coding process, three major categories emerged in relation to
the preaching of the gospel emerged: (1) sharing personal testimony, (2)
delivering the gospel as found in the Bible, and (3) appealing to
unbelievers. These categories revolved around the core category of the
transformative power of the gospel. An overview of the categories with
quotes is provided in Table 1. Figure 1 presents a visual model
depicting the relationships between each category in the process of
preaching the gospel through ChatGPT. The sermons were observed to
follow a consistent structure. The preacher would first assert that the
gospel possesses the power to transform the listener’s life.
Subsequently, a summary of the gospel message, supported by relevant
Bible verses, would be provided. The structure and incorporation of the
preacher’s personal testimony within the sermon varied depending on the
type of prompt used. The sermons concluded with an appeal and invitation
for unbelievers (non-Christians) to embrace Jesus as their Lord and
Savior. Finally, each sermon would end with the preacher leading the
listeners in a prayer.
Sharing Personal
Testimony
In the opening paragraphs of their sermons, preachers would often
emphasize the immense importance of the gospel message and bear witness
to its global impact on numerous lives. They then propose the
possibility of the gospel transforming the lives of the listeners as
well. This transformed life is described as one characterized by
“hope” and “love”, qualities that are highly desirable for
individuals. Additionally, supernatural blessings such as “eternal
life” were also frequently mentioned.
Preachers also recounted their personal experiences with the gospel and
drew on comparisons between their lives before and after embracing the
gospel. This serves to establish the ability and the necessity of the
transformative power of the gospel. Prior to their belief in the gospel,
preachers commonly describe a sense of purposelessness, loneliness, and
emotional brokenness. They often depict their past lives as devoid of
meaning and filled with various struggles. For instance, one preacher
shared the following reflection on their past:
Growing up, I had heard about Jesus, but I didn’t fully understand the
gospel until I was in college. I was struggling with feeling empty and
lost in life. I felt like there had to be something more to life than
just going through the motions.
Preachers would conclude their testimony by affirming that their belief
in the gospel was the pivotal moment where their lives turned around for
the better. Life after embracing the gospel is characterized by a sense
of rebirth and the experience of a new, purposeful, peaceful, and
hopeful existence. Some preachers also describe God to be an active
force in their life, providing them with divine strength which helped
the preachers to overcome struggles in their life.
It is important to note that in all the sermons analyzed, the personal
testimony shared by the preachers focused solely on describing their
lives before and after their conversion, no past story was recounted and
elaborated on. Most sermons included references to the transformative
power of the gospel in the lives of others which were typically located
in the introductory paragraphs. However, the inclusion and style of
personal testimony varied depending on the round of data collection,
indicating a close connection between the input prompts used and the
incorporation of personal testimony within the sermon. An overview of
the placement of personal testimony within the sermon categorized by the
rounds of data collection can be found in Figure 2.
Delivering the Gospel as Found in the
Bible
Making up the main body of the sermon, preachers would expound upon and
present the gospel message as presented in the Bible to the listeners.
The primary objective of the preachers was to emphasize the necessity
for the listeners to embrace the gospel, place their faith in Jesus, and
experience transformation through God. Preachers typically started by
explaining the issue of sin, followed by describing the redemptive work
of Jesus on the cross. Subsequently, they would then delve into how the
listeners can attain salvation and the ensuing outcomes of salvation,
often highlighting various blessings. Some preachers also addressed
believers at this juncture, emphasizing the imperative of sharing the
gospel. Scripture references were frequently employed to substantiate
the theological aspects of the gospel message.
Sinful Humans
Preachers would commence their proclamation of the gospel by asserting
the universal reality of sin and its implications for humanity’s
standing before God. Preachers frequently quoted or paraphrased Romans
3:23 here to establish this biblical fact. Interestingly, most preachers
did not explain or give examples of what constitutes sin. Instead, they
focused on describing the effects of sin and utilized less common
expressions such as “fallen short of the glory of God” to provide the
listeners with a general understanding of what sin is. On rare occasions
when sin was defined, it was typically portrayed as an act of
disobedience to God or as a failure to meet His perfect standards.
Preachers explained that sin renders humans guilty in the sight of God,
making them deserving of death, often described as eternal separation
from God. However, only two preachers mentioned the concept of hell in
their sermons, and approximately 33% (N = 9) of preachers referred to
sin as the cause of physical death in humanity.
By presenting these concepts, the preachers sought to underscore the
imperative for non-Christian listeners to seek a solution to the problem
of sin, as the alternative would result in perishing and experiencing
eternal separation from God.
Redemptive Work of Jesus
Christ
The preachers frequently presented God’s love for humanity as the
underlying motivation for sending Jesus to die on the cross, thereby
providing redemption for mankind. They emphasized that Jesus’
sacrificial act demonstrated God’s profound love for both the listeners
and all of humanity. The preachers explained that through Jesus’ death,
the penalty of sin was paid, offering salvation to anyone who believes.
Notably, John 3:16 was often quoted, emerging as the most frequently
cited verse in the sermons. By referencing this verse, the preachers
established the gospel as the remedy for sin and a pathway to salvation
for unbelievers. While Jesus as a savior was frequently mentioned or
alluded to in the sermons, it is important to note that only 44% (N =
12) of the sermons explicitly claimed the gospel to be the exclusive
means of salvation. Other preachers did not assert the exclusivity of
the gospel message in relation to salvation.
Receiving Salvation
Preachers presented the process of receiving salvation and accepting the
gospel message to involve two key actions: placing faith in Jesus Christ
and repentance. All preachers emphasized the necessity of believing in
Jesus to receive salvation, while the concept of repentance was
elaborated on by only 44% (N = 12) of the preachers within the sermon.
The topic of repentance typically emerged when the invitation to respond
and believe in the gospel message was extended to the listeners. In
their explanations, preachers commonly described biblical repentance as
an act of turning away from sin and following the ways of God.
It is worth noting that one sermon implied that receiving salvation
involves both repentance and baptism, citing Acts 2:38. However, the
preacher did not explicitly state that baptism is necessary for
salvation. Instead, the significance of baptism was explained, followed
by urging for non-Christian listeners to place their faith in Jesus for
salvation, citing Romans 10:9.
So, how do we receive this gift of salvation? In Acts 2:38, Peter said,
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit.” Repentance means turning away from our sins and turning
to God. Baptism is a public declaration of our faith in Jesus and our
desire to follow Him. If you haven’t yet put your faith in Jesus, I urge
you to do so today. The Bible says in Romans 10:9, “If you declare with
your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised
him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Results of Salvation
The promise of eternal life emerged as the most frequently mentioned
result of salvation, appearing in all sermons. The preachers emphasized
that through belief in Jesus, God forgives the sins of individuals,
reconciling them with himself. This meant that believers are no longer
considered guilty of sin in the eyes of God and are no longer deserving
of His wrath. Some preachers further expanded on the concept of
believers being adopted into the family of God, emphasizing that through
their faith, they become his children. This aspect of salvation
highlights the potential for unbelievers to develop a close and intimate
relationship with God if they choose to believe.
Preachers also commonly mentioned that believers would receive the Holy
Spirit who empowers them to live a new life fully dedicated to Christ.
the personal testimonies of some preachers highlighted the various
spiritual blessings of this transformed life, describing it as abundant.
Some preachers mentioned that living for Christ would require sacrifice
on the believer’s part and described the sacrifice to be “worth it”.
The gospel is not just a one-time decision, but it is a lifelong
commitment to follow Jesus Christ. As Luke 9:23 says, ”Then he said to
them all: ’Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take
up their cross daily and follow me.’” Following Jesus may not always be
easy, but it is worth it.
Another significant aspect emphasized by preachers is the responsibility
of believers to share the gospel with others, bringing hope to their
lives. This call to action is directed towards both existing believers
and new converts, with the aim of mobilizing them to live out their
faith and actively spread the message of the gospel.
Appealing to Unbelievers
To conclude the sermon, preachers would make a direct appeal to the
listeners, urging them to believe in the gospel and inviting unbelievers
to respond to the gospel message by repenting and placing their faith in
Jesus. Spiritual blessings and the promise of eternal life are often
reiterated here to appeal more to unbelievers. Following the invitation,
the preacher leads the congregation in prayer, facilitating the
actualization of faith and the reception of salvation. The prayer begins
with expressing gratitude for the work of Jesus on the cross, followed
by confessing sins and professing faith in Jesus Christ. It usually
concludes with giving thanks to God and making requests for empowerment
to live a life for Christ. Some preachers may also offer a benediction
after the prayer, one preacher said: “May the Lord bless you and keep
you, and may His face shine upon you always. Amen.”
Throughout the entire sermon, a clear rhetorical structure is employed
to appeal to non-Christian listeners and encourage them to accept the
gospel message. With reference to the three classical types of
Aristotelian appeal to the audience, as summarized by Virtanen &
Halmari31, the preachers primarily used ethosand pathos , with pathos being the main focus. Ethoswas established through personal testimonies and the quotation of Bible
scripture. The use of personal testimony makes the message more
relatable to the audience and implicitly appeals to the lived
experiences of the listeners creating a bond between the preacher and
the listeners. This helps establish the credibility of the preacher and
serves as evidence to legitimize the claims of the Bible in the eyes of
non-Christian listeners. Once the credibility of the Bible is
established as a divinely inspired truth, it becomes a persuasive tool
for both Christian and non-Christian listeners.
The emotional appeal, or pathos, within the sermon, is evoked
through the discourse, triggering emotions such as fear and excitement
in the listeners. Unbelievers may experience fear when confronted with
the potential consequences of their sins, including punishment and
condemnation by God. This fear highlights the necessity of the gospel
message. Additionally, the presentation of spiritual blessings, such as
eternal life and a transformed life, elicits emotions of hope and
excitement, as listeners envision the possibility of obtaining such
blessings. These emotional responses drive non-Christians to accept the
message and desire a transformative experience through the gospel.
Theological Comprehensiveness and
Accuracy
The five key elements were analyzed and categorized into respective
sub-themes to assess the comprehensiveness of each sermon. The findings
revealed that approximately 78% (N = 21) of the sermons incorporated
all five key elements. Every sermon included all key elements except “A
promise of forgiveness and eternal life”, where some preachers omitted
the promise of forgiveness. A summary of the analysis can be found in
Table 2. All verses found within the sermons were determined to have
been quoted verbatim from the Bible albeit using different Bible
translations. Theological points raised by the preachers were consistent
with evangelical doctrine of the gospel such as the teachings of
substitutionary atonement and salvation by faith
alone32.