The Robot Preacher or The Holy Ghost in the machine

An AI tool that is in the news lately is ChatGPT. (I am afraid that you cannot try it out without signing up.) I happened to come across it when someone demonstrated its response to "Design me an 8-week training plan to improve my 5km running time." The results were most impressive. So, out of curiosity I told it "Write a sermon on the stoning of Paul in Acts 14" and here's what it came up with:

"Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, we are going to be looking at the story of the stoning of Paul in Acts 14. As we read this passage, we are reminded of the incredible faith and courage that Paul displayed, even in the face of persecution and death.

As the story goes, Paul and Barnabas were traveling throughout the region of Lycaonia, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and performing miracles. When they arrived in the city of Lystra, they met a man who had been crippled from birth. Seeing the faith of Paul and Barnabas, the man was healed and began to walk.

This miraculous healing caused the people of Lystra to believe that Paul and Barnabas were gods. They began to worship them and offer sacrifices to them, but Paul and Barnabas quickly corrected them and told them that they were merely servants of the one true God.

Despite this, the people of Lystra were not convinced and they began to stone Paul, thinking that they were punishing a false god. Paul was left for dead, but he eventually regained consciousness and was able to escape with the help of the believers in the city.

As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of the incredible faith and courage that Paul displayed, even in the face of persecution and death. He knew that he was called by God to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, and he was willing to endure any hardship in order to fulfill that calling.

We too are called to share the love and message of Jesus with those around us, no matter the cost. Let us pray that we may have the same faith and courage as Paul, and that we may always be willing to follow God's will for our lives. Amen."

Well, that's me sorted for Sunday Evening. A little short perhaps, but I suggest that you would be hard pressed to spot that the author is a machine!

They never had things like that when I was at school!