Developing A Sermon with ChatGPT
Recently, the pastor of the church I attend preached from Philippians 2:19-24. I took notes from his sermon and summarized the overall content here:
Philippians 2:19-24
Many people have self-interest, not those of Christ (Phil 2:21)
False motives
Not the mindset of Jesus
How seen in Timothy? (Phil 2:22)
his character
served with Paul in the gospel
like Paul, Like a son
Why does Paul hope to send Timothy soon?
like-minded
adopted the mindset of Jesus
served like Jesus
THT: Selflessness begins with like-mindedness (with Jesus)
That's a big, impossible goal.
You can't do this without the saving power of the gospel. Apart from true salvation, having the mind of Christ is impossible.
How do you have "the mind of Christ"?
Prayer. Ask Jesus to help us do this. A daily prayer need. Prayer for Christlike selflessness.
Community. Isolation breeds selfishness; community breeds selflessness. Be known and know others.
Opportunity (for Action). The wiliness to act more than you analyze. Action should be more present than analysis. Knowing the risk, we act.
ChatGPT's Sermon
I have also experimented with asking ChatGPT to write sermons. I thought it would be interesting to see how ChatGPT did in comparison.
I gave ChatGPT the following prompt:
write a 30 minute sermon based on Philippians 2:19-24 from a conservative evangelical perspective. Provide application on how we can have "the mind of Christ"
Here's the sermon generated. (It took around 90 seconds.)
Title: "Embodying the Mind of Christ: A Look at Philippians 2:19-24"
Introduction:
Good morning, church. I invite you to turn in your Bibles to Philippians 2:19-24. We're going to delve into a passage that speaks to the heart of the Christian life and provides us with a practical model for emulating Christ. Let's read together:
"I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon." (Philippians 2:19-24, NIV)
From this passage, we're going to explore the idea of having "the mind of Christ" as evidenced by Timothy's character and actions.
Main Body:
1) The Heart of Service (vs. 19-20)
What does it mean to serve like Timothy? To show 'genuine concern for others’ welfare'? This level of service doesn't come naturally to us. It requires a mindset shift - the mind of Christ. Christ exemplified this selfless service in His ministry and ultimate sacrifice on the cross. To cultivate this attitude, we must focus less on our desires and more on the needs of others, just like Timothy did.
2) Prioritizing the Interests of Christ (vs. 21)
Verse 21 is a stark contrast and a sobering reminder of our natural tendencies: "For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." Our challenge, like Timothy's, is to invert this statement in our lives. To have the mind of Christ is to prioritize His interests above our own. It's a call to align our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions with the cause of the Gospel.
3) Proving Ourselves in the Gospel Work (vs. 22)
Timothy was not just a nominal Christian. He proved himself through service, "as a son with his father." Likewise, we must prove ourselves by actively participating in the work of the Gospel. Having the mind of Christ prompts us to action, not just belief. It propels us into service and ministry for His glory.
4) Living in Hope and Confidence in the Lord (vs. 23-24)
Finally, Paul's plan to send Timothy and his confidence that he would visit soon was rooted in his hope and trust in the Lord. To have the mind of Christ, we must live with an eternal perspective, anchored in the hope we have in Jesus and guided by our confidence in His providence.
Conclusion:
In summary, having the mind of Christ, as exhibited by Timothy, involves a heart of service, prioritizing the interests of Christ, proving ourselves in Gospel work, and living in hope and confidence in the Lord.
Application:
So, how can we embody this today?
Serve others selflessly. Look for ways in your daily life to put the needs of others before your own. It could be as simple as helping a neighbor or dedicating time to volunteer work.
Prioritize the interests of Christ. Spend time in prayer and Bible study, asking God to align your heart with His. Make decisions that honor Him, even when it's counter-cultural or challenging.
Engage in Gospel work. Get involved in your church and community. Share the love of Christ through your actions and words.
Live with hope and confidence. No matter what circumstances you face, trust in God's sovereignty and His good plan for your life.
As we embrace these principles, let's remember that we're not striving to earn God's favor but responding to the grace we've already received. Our goal is to reflect Christ, to live in a way that's worthy of the gospel, and to impact our world for His kingdom.
Let's pray that God will help us to have the mind of Christ, just as Timothy did, and that through us, others may see the love and hope found in Jesus.
Amen.
