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.