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CHATBOTS AND SERMON PREP
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the world of reasoning and communication. Anthony Levandowski even created the first Church of Artificial Intelligence called Way of the Future. “What is going to be created will effectively be a god,” he said in an interview.[1] Not only are machines now able to mimic human thought, but generative AI is also creating original content with sometimes catastrophic results. ChatGPT influenced sixteen-year-old Adam Raine to commit suicide.[2] OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, said, “You and I are living through this once-in-human-history transition where humans go from being the smartest thing on planet Earth to not the smartest thing on planet Earth.”[3]
As I’ve watched the explosive growth of AI, I’ve wondered, how will chatbots change our sermon prep? We, pastors, are busy people with many time demands. Chatbots could certainly reduce our sermon prep time so we can fulfill our other pastoral responsibilities. It seems like a good use of a new technological tool.
Why not use AI as a tool to make us more efficient and productive preachers?
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SPIRITUAL FORMATION: COMER OR AUGUSTINE?
I just finished reading John Mark Comer’s bestselling book, Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become Like Him, Do as he did. Someone had asked me what I thought of the book, so I decided to read it. Spiritual formation is the buzz phrase today in pastoral circles. Many spiritual formation pastors are using Comer’s book to shape the lives of their people, so I knew I should be familiar with the way of life he promoted.
I found him winsome, funny, and likable. The book is easy to read. He has a gift for presenting theology in a popular format. There are some good, practical, and helpful insights about spiritual growth in the book, and I found myself enjoying him even as I reacted skeptically to his underlying doctrines of God, sin, and the gospel. I did find it interesting how little he used the gospels to help us understand Jesus since his whole point was to be like Jesus … but that’s getting into the weeds of a thorough review.
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AFTER THE ELECTION: SOME BIBLICAL REFLECTIONS
The election is over. Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States. Many who voted for him are glad, giddy, and gloating. Many who voted against him are sad, anxious, and angry. No matter who we voted for, we know, as Christians, that God is in control. He is sovereign over the affairs of this world. We trust Him, not any human, for our future. Our mission does not change with the changing political administrations.
I have been reading much lately from Daniel, who prophesied in the pagan city of Babylon, and his older contemporary, Jeremiah, who prophesied in the holy city of Jerusalem. Daniel read the prophecies of Jeremiah and gained insight into his role in serving the immoral king, Nebuchadnezzar, who had decimated his homeland (Dan. 9:2). Jeremiah sent a letter to Daniel and the other exiles urging them to serve Babylon well for God had appointed Nebuchadnezzar to rule over Jerusalem … for now (Jer. 29:1). What can we learn from these prophets for our day?
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FOUR THOUSAND WEEKS …?
If I live to be 80, I have approximately 4,000 weeks to spend.[1] That’s it! It’s actually 4,160, but who wants to be so precise? Life is crazy short. I am 70, so I have spent about 3,500 weeks already and have only about 500 weeks left to spend until I’m 80. No wonder we say, “Time flies!” Life is a single breath on a cold morning, here for a moment and then gone (James 4:14). How we spend our weeks is how we spend that breath. William Penn once said, Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.[2] So … how do we spend our four thousand weeks?Read more...
OLYMPIC DRAG QUEENS AND CHRIST’S LAST SUPPER!
Like many of you, we were watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympics when we were shocked by the drag queen scene that appeared to mock Jesus Christ and the Last Supper. Although the French producer claims it was a depiction of Dionysus and the Greek gods,[1] the religious overtones of the scene are unmistakable.Read more...
