Theoretical Framework

Before outlining the chosen methodology and results, the nature of preaching, its essential components, and the core themes of the gospel message will be summarized. This will form the context in which this study takes place and help to develop sensitizing concepts as part of the Grounded Theory methodology. Additionally, it will help to serve as a framework to evaluate ChatGPT’s ability to craft a theologically accurate sermon on the gospel. The summary and evaluation will be from an Evangelical Protestant perspective. It is worth noting the researcher comes from a Pentecostal church in Singapore.
A sermon can be defined as “the portion of a religious service in which a preacher offers commentary or guidance through a theological or religious lens”14. An evangelistic sermon stands apart from a typical sermon as its primary aim is to present the Gospel message and bring about the conversion of non-Christians to the Christian faith. Based on this definition, a sermon can be divided into two distinct parts, the delivery of the sermon and the content that is delivered. The delivery of a sermon is a public speech or address that is delivered to a congregation that has “observable linguistic and social actions that can be analyzed empirically”15. On the other hand, the contents of the sermon are constructed upon Christian biblical text, distilled through the preacher’s hermeneutics. This aspect should be examined theologically. Both the delivery and content of the sermons will be explored in this study using a Grounded Theory approach.

Preaching

Preaching is a form of religious discourse that serves “to create, mediate and reflect ideology to persuade the reader of the veracity of the Christian doctrine”16. J.I. Packer succinctly describes the role of the preacher as that to “mediate meetings with God”17. To achieve this, preachers often engage in biblical exposition, the sharing of personal testimony, and utilize illustrations to effectively communicate their message to the congregation. Preaching encompasses “things such as exhortation, exposition, admonition, encouragement, and comfort”18, all with the ultimate goal of impacting people to Christ19. However, the method and focus of preaching can vary based on the preacher’s education and theological convictions.
In the field of homiletics, some view the task of the preacher to be heralding or proclaiming the truth20. They place special emphasis on the preacher’s focus to deliver and convey the message that is within scripture. Others take a different approach, highlighting the preacher’s responsibility to guide the audience toward the direction that was outlined in the sermon. This perspective places a stronger emphasis on the persuasive nature of preaching and advocates for increased creativity in the preaching process21. The present study aims to examine which approach ChatGPT aligns with when preaching the gospel.

The Gospel

The gospel is central to the Christian faith as it is the Bible’s response to the issue of sin that Christianity claims all humans need to tackle. This significance is evident through the prevalent use of passages related to the gospel and the preaching of the gospel among churches as revealed in a survey conducted by LifeWay Research22. In essence, the gospel is the message of Jesus Christ’s birth, sinless life, vicarious death, and subsequent resurrection that redeems mankind from sin and death23. Sin hinders man from being in communion with a holy God and without paying the penalty of sin, eternal fellowship with God is unattainable. The process of the removal of sin is based on the “substitutionary atonement” of Jesus. Wellman’s interviews with Evangelicals highlight this aspect as a central theme24. By placing faith in Jesus Christ and believing in him as Lord and Saviour, individuals can receive salvation through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. Christianity asserts that this is the sole means by which humanity can be reconciled with Christ and inherit eternal life. Preachers will often call on the congregation to respond to the Gospel message by repenting and believing in Christ. This often involves leading them in a prayer commonly known as “the Sinner’s Prayer” where an unbeliever acknowledges their sin, recognizes the redeeming work of Christ, and professes their faith in Jesus Christ.
Wayne Grudem outlines key elements of the gospel message that must be conveyed when preaching the gospel message. These elements are (1) all people have sinned; (2) the penalty for sin is death; (3) Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins; (4) invitation to respond to Christ personally in repentance and faith; (5) a promise of forgiveness and eternal life25. In evaluating the evangelistic sermons generated by ChatGPT, their theological comprehensiveness and adherence to the fundamental evangelical doctrine of the gospel will be assessed based on these five key elements.