Sermon Repurposing with ChatGPT: A complete guide for Pastors

Hey there, pastors! Are you tired of spending hours and hours preparing powerful sermons, only to feel like they fall flat once they hit YouTube? I hear you, and I've got your back.

Imagine transforming those carefully crafted messages into engaging formats that truly resonate with your audience. Well, my friends, you don't have to imagine anymore. Welcome to the wonderful world of sermon repurposing with ChatGPT!

I'm here to share the secrets of leveraging ChatGPT to help you breathe new life into your sermons and expand your reach. But you might ask, "What's ChatGPT, and why should I care?" Great question!

ChatGPT is an AI-powered language model designed by OpenAI, and it's a game-changer for content creators like you. It's like having a skilled team of writers ready to turn your sermons into captivating blogs and social media posts.

In this guide, I'll show you how to repurpose your sermons with ChatGPT rapidly. You'll be able to maximize your efforts and inspire a wider audience with your message.

Ready to transform your sermons into content your audience can't resist? Let's dive in!

What is Sermon Repurposing?

Sermon repurposing is the process of taking the content you've passionately created and presenting it in a new way to captivate a new audience. Think of it as upcycling your sermons by transforming them into blog articles, podcasts, or engaging videos.

ChatGPT can also help you extract the following from a full-length sermon.

• Sermon outlines.
• Sermon summaries.
• Target audience.
• Church email content.
• Turn a sermon into a search-optimized blog article.

Now, let's continue to explore the exciting world of sermon repurposing, shall we?

For this example, we will use a sermon we found on Preaching Today.

How to repurpose a sermon with ChatGPT.

If you’re like most Pastors, you probably preach about three times a month, at least 36 sermons a year. So the question is, what do you do with all that content on your hands?

When repurposing a sermon, you give it a new life and reach a whole new audience beyond your church walls.

I want to show you how you can take the sermons you already have and create endless content for your congregation and online community.

Sermon Title: Hung up: How do I forgive myself?

Preacher: Dan Meyer

Sermon Summary

The sermon talks about the struggle of forgiving oneself. Judas' betrayal and suicide story helps address the lingering guilt and shame sinners feel. The sermon offers four steps to help someone struggle to forgive themselves.

1. The first step is not to forgive oneself too easily. Forgiveness should involve some struggle and not be an excuse to avoid blame.
2. The second step is to ask for forgiveness from those whose actions have hurt.
3. The third step is to accept God's forgiveness and let go of the guilt and shame.
4. The final step is to move forward and use one's experience to help others who may be struggling with the same issues.

The sermon suggests that when we don't forgive ourselves, it can lead to self-destructive habits and prevent us from living a life of joy and purpose.

The story of the man who accidentally killed his best friend as a teenager is often cited as an example of someone who had difficulty forgiving himself and trying to make up for it too much.

The sermon encourages listeners to confront and learn from their mistakes rather than denying or avoiding them.

Overall, the sermon emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, humility, and honesty in the process of self-forgiveness. It acknowledges that forgiving oneself is not an easy process but is necessary for personal growth and healing.

For a full sermon, please head over to Preaching Today.

Step 1. Retitle the sermon for your online audience

When repurposing your sermon, one of the most important steps is to ensure you have the right title.

A title can make or break the success of your sermon, as it's often the first thing potential listeners will see. A good title should be clear, concise, and compelling. It should capture the essence of your message in just a few words and entice people to listen.

To create the right title, start by reviewing your sermon and identifying the main theme or message you want to convey. Think about what would resonate with your target audience and what might pique their interest. Consider using action words and addressing the problem that your sermon solves.

Once you have a few potential titles in mind, test them out on a small group of people to see which one gets the most positive response. You could even conduct a poll or survey to get more feedback.

It's important to remember that your title should accurately reflect the content of your sermon, so avoid using clickbait tactics or misleading language.

Let's head over to ChatGPT to see how it can help us with the title of this sermon.

Extract Information from the sermon.

Prompt

Help me extract the following information: who is this sermon for? What problem does it solve?: [PASTE SERMON CONTENT HERE]

ChatGPT Output

Who is this sermon for?

The sermon is for those who have sinned and feel terribly remorseful but cannot seem to rid themselves of the guilt and are hung up in other ways.

What problem does it solve?

The sermon focuses on the challenge of self-forgiveness, which can trigger denial and result in feelings of sadness or apathy that rob us of happiness. It can also trigger self-loathing, self-sabotage or destructive habits, and resignation to continue failing.

The next step is to ask ChatGPT to help us craft a title for our online audience using the information above.

Prompt

Using the information above, write a title, include an action verb and keyword, and address the problem.

ChatGPT Output

"Breaking the Chains of Self-Blame: Four Steps to Overcoming the Struggle of Self-Forgiveness"

How to Repurpose a sermon for TikTok and YouTube shots

Consider turning your lengthy sermon into brief sermon highlight videos to broaden your audience and appeal to modern viewers.

With attention spans getting shorter and shorter, it's becoming increasingly important to capture people's attention quickly and hold it for as long as possible.

By breaking your sermon down into shorter, bite-sized pieces, you can make it easier for people to engage with and absorb your message.

TikTok's popularity among younger generations also offers a unique opportunity to connect with a demographic that might not otherwise engage with traditional sermons.

Creating shorter TikTok videos is a great way to repurpose your sermon and extend its lifespan beyond the day it was delivered. By making an effort to repurpose your sermon, you can potentially reach a wider audience and make a greater impact with your message.

Here are some use cases for short videos.

• Sermon Highlight video
• Upcoming sermon series

Prompt

Please create ten short video scripts for TicToc using the following sermon notes: [PASTE SERMON HERE]

ChatGPT Output

Here are ten short video scripts for TicTok based on the sermon notes:

Script 1:

[Video] Scene opens with a man sitting in a dimly lit room, looking lost and anxious.

[Voice or text] "Have you ever done something you regret so much that you can't forgive yourself? That inner voice of condemnation won't stop. You're not alone. Let's take a look at what the Bible says about forgiveness."

Script 2:

[Video] Scene opens with a woman walking down a street, looking downcast.

[Voice or text] "When we can't forgive ourselves, it can lead to many negative emotions. Sadness, anger, and even self-loathing. It's a heavy burden to carry. But the good news is that there is a way out."

Script 3:

[Video] Scene opens with a man standing on a beach, staring at the ocean.

[Voice or text] "Forgiveness can be a difficult process, especially when it comes to forgiving ourselves. But we must be careful not to forgive too easily. True self-forgiveness requires some struggle."

Script 4:

[Video] Scene opens with a woman sitting at a desk, writing in a journal.

[Voice or text]"When we've done something wrong, it's important to acknowledge it and take responsibility. We can't just ignore it and pretend it never happened. That's not true forgiveness."

Script 5:

[Video] Scene opens with a man walking through a park, deep in thought.

[Voice or text] "Forgiving ourselves is not about making excuses for our behavior or trying to justify it. It's about acknowledging our mistakes, seeking forgiveness from those we've hurt, and moving forward gracefully."

Script 6:

[Video] Scene opens with a woman sitting in a church pew, listening intently to the sermon.

[Voice or text] "God offers us forgiveness freely, but we must accept it. Sometimes that means forgiving ourselves, too. It's not always easy but necessary for true healing."

Script 7:

[Video] Scene opens with a man staring into space in a coffee shop.

[Voice or text] "When we can't forgive ourselves, it can lead to many negative behaviors. We might start self-sabotaging or engaging in self-destructive habits. But there is hope. Forgiveness is possible."

Script 8:

[Video] Scene opens with a woman standing on a bridge, looking down at the water.

[Voice or text] "Forgiving ourselves requires us to be vulnerable, to confront our mistakes head-on. But when we do, we can experience true freedom and healing. Don't give up. Keep moving forward."

Script 9:

[Video] Scene opens with a man sitting in a dark room, holding his head in his hands. [Voice or text] "It's not easy to face our mistakes, but it's necessary for true healing to occur. Don't let the guilt and shame keep you trapped. Seek forgiveness and move forward."

Script 10:

[Video] Scene opens with a woman standing on a mountaintop, looking at the horizon.

[Voice or text] "Forgiveness is a journey, and it's not always a straight path. But with God's help, we can find the strength to forgive ourselves and others. Let go of the past and embrace the future."

How to repurpose a sermon into social media outreach using ChatGPT.

For several reasons, breaking down a sermon into shorter social media posts can be highly beneficial.

Firstly, it allows for greater accessibility to a broader audience who may not have the time or patience to listen to a longer sermon.

Shorter posts can capture the essence of the message in bite-sized chunks, making it easier for viewers to absorb and understand the content.

Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are created to encourage sharing and engagement. Consequently, shorter posts are more likely to be shared and reach a wider audience.

Churches can connect with younger, social media-savvy audiences by transforming sermons into bite-sized social media posts. This approach caters to those who might not attend services regularly.

"Converting a sermon into social media posts can effectively broaden outreach, boost engagement, and make the message more accessible to a broader audience."

Prompt

Please create ten social media posts, including image ideas and hashtags, using this sermon text: [PASTE SERMON HERE]

ChatGPT Output

Social Media Post # 1

• Image Idea: A broken, rusty chain symbolizes the chains of guilt and shame that hold us back.
• Hashtag: #BreakTheChainsOfGuilt
• Post: "Are you feeling weighed down by guilt and shame? Don't let it hold you back any longer. It's time to break the chains of guilt and set yourself free. #BreakTheChainsOfGuilt"

Social Media Post # 2

• Image Idea: A person holding a heavy burden to symbolize the weight of unforgivable sins.
• Hashtag: #LetGoAndForgive
• Post: "Are you carrying the weight of your past mistakes? It's time to let go and forgive yourself. Remember that you're only human, and everyone makes mistakes. #LetGoAndForgive"

Social Media Post # 3

• Image Idea: A person looking in the mirror symbolizes the importance of self-reflection.
• Hashtag: #ReflectAndForgive
• Post: "Sometimes it's hard to forgive ourselves for what we've done wrong. But taking the time to reflect on our actions can help us learn and grow from our mistakes. #ReflectAndForgive"

Social Media Post # 4

• Image Idea: A person holding a broken mirror to symbolize the shattered sense of self-worth that can result from unforgiven sins.
• Hashtag: #MendYourSelfWorth
• Post: "Unforgiven sins can shatter our sense of self-worth and leave us feeling broken. But with forgiveness, we can mend our brokenness and restore our self-worth. #MendYourSelfWorth"

Social Media Post # 5

• Image Idea: A person holding their hand symbolizes the importance of reaching out for help.
• Hashtag: #ReachOutForHelp
• Post: "Sometimes we can't forgive ourselves on our own. It's important to seek help from others and God to find the forgiveness we need. #ReachOutForHelp"

Social Media Post # 6

• Image Idea: A person standing at a crossroads to symbolize the choice between holding onto guilt and shame or letting go and forgiving oneself.
• Hashtag: #ChooseForgiveness
• Post: "We all come to a crossroads in life where we must choose. Will you hold onto guilt and shame, or will you choose forgiveness and freedom? #ChooseForgiveness"

Social Media Post # 7

• Image Idea: A person standing before a sunrise symbolizes a new beginning.
• Hashtag: #NewDayNewBeginning
• Post: "Every new day is a chance to start fresh and let go of the past. Embrace the new day and give yourself the gift of forgiveness. #NewDayNewBeginning"

Social Media Post # 8

• Image Idea: A person holding a broken heart symbolizes the emotional pain that unforgivable sins can cause.
• Hashtag: #HealingFromWithin
• Post: "Unforgiven sins can cause emotional pain that lingers long after the act itself. But with forgiveness, we can heal from within and find peace. #HealingFromWithin"

Social Media Post # 9

• Image Idea: A person standing before a waterfall symbolizes forgiveness's cleansing power.
• Hashtag: #CleanseYourSoul
• Post: "Forgiveness can cleanse our souls and wash away the stains of our past mistakes. Embrace the cleansing power of forgiveness today. #CleanseYourSoul"

Social Media Post # 10

• Image Idea: A person holding a dove symbolizes the peace that comes with forgiveness.
• Hashtag: #FindInnerPeace
• Post: "When we forgive ourselves, we find the inner peace that can't be found anywhere else. Let go of your past mistakes and find the peace that comes with forgiveness. #FindInnerPeace"

Creating social media posts takes up much time and could hinder nourishing your congregational relationships.

By utilizing software such as Canva.com and social media scheduling tools, churches can easily create eye-catching graphics and schedule their posts in advance.

This saves time and ensures that the content is delivered consistently. Don't let the fear of technology hold you back from reaching your audience.

Embrace these tools and use their features to increase your online presence and connect with your members more meaningfully.

Turn your sermon into an email newsletter sequence

As pastors and church leaders, we spend considerable time preparing and delivering sermons to our congregations. However, with the growth of technology and digital communication, we now have more opportunities to reach our communities beyond the traditional church morning service.

Repurposing a sermon into an email sequence is one such opportunity. We can deepen engagement with our members, reinforce the sermon's message and provide ongoing guidance by converting it into a series of emails.

Sending your church members emails of your sermon can have several benefits.

• Firstly, it allows your congregation to revisit and reflect on the message delivered during the service.
• Secondly, sending an email can also help to reinforce the message and encourage your congregation to take action on what was shared during the service. By reiterating the key points in written form, you can help reinforce the message's impact and encourage people to apply it to their lives.
• Thirdly, email communication can help you stay connected with your congregation between services. Regularly sending emails can inform your members of upcoming events, share news and updates, and encourage ongoing spiritual growth and reflection.

Sending sermon emails to church members helps reinforce the message, encourages further reflection and study, and enhances congregation connection.

Prompt

I want to send one email per day for the next six days to my church members with important lessons from the sermon I just preached. Please create an email sequence with the lessons from the sermon here: [PASTE SERMON HERE]

ChatGPT Output

Day One Email

Subject: Dealing with Guilt and Forgiveness

Dear [church member],

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to share some important lessons from my sermon. The sermon focused on the story of Judas, who betrayed Jesus and later hanged himself out of remorse. While we may not have betrayed someone as Judas did, we all have sinned and felt the weight of guilt.

Have you ever struggled to forgive yourself? Perhaps you did something in the past that still haunts you, and you feel like you cannot shake off the guilt. You may have tried to make up for your mistake, but it still feels insufficient.

The first step in forgiving yourself is not to forgive too easily. Forgiving ourselves should involve some struggle, and it's okay to feel remorseful for what we've done. We can't brush off our mistakes and pretend they didn't happen. We need to confront them and take responsibility for them.

As Psalm 51:17 says, "Broken and contrite heart God will not despise." Feeling broken and contrite is okay, and we shouldn't be ashamed. When we come to God with a repentant heart, He will forgive us and help us to move on.

I encourage you to take some time to reflect on this and ask God to help you forgive yourself. In my next email, I will share the second step to forgiving yourself.

Blessings, [Your Name]

Day Two Email

Subject: The Second Step to Forgiving Yourself

Dear [church member],

I hope you found the first email helpful. Forgiving ourselves is not easy, but it's essential if we want to move on and live the life God intended for us.

The second step to forgiving yourself is to be honest with yourself. Sometimes, we try to justify our actions or minimize the harm we've caused others. We might say things like, "It wasn't that bad," or "It was just a mistake." But deep down, we know what we did was wrong and must be honest.

When we're honest with ourselves, we can begin to take responsibility for our actions and make amends. We can ask for forgiveness from those we've hurt and do what we can to make things right.

If you struggle to be honest with yourself, I encourage you to pray and ask God to reveal the truth. It may be painful, but it's necessary if you want to move forward.

In my next email, I will share the third step to forgiving yourself.

Blessings, [Your Name]

Day Three Email

Subject: The Third Step to Forgiving Yourself

Dear [church member],

I hope you're finding these emails helpful. Forgiving yourself is a process, and it takes time. But it's worth it.

The third step to forgiving yourself is to seek forgiveness from others. If you've hurt someone, it's essential to apologize and ask for their forgiveness. It may not be easy, but it's necessary.

When we seek forgiveness from others, we acknowledge the harm we've caused and show that we're willing to take responsibility for our actions. It's a humbling experience, but it's also an opportunity for healing and reconciliation.

If you're unsure how to seek forgiveness from someone, I encourage you to pray about it and ask God to guide you. He will show you the way.

In my next email, I will share the fourth and final step to forgiving yourself.

Blessings, [Your Name]

Day Four Email

Subject: The Final Step to Forgiving Yourself

Dear [church member],

We're almost done with this series on forgiveness, and I hope it's been helpful to you. Today, I want to talk about the final step to forgiving yourself.

In the previous emails, we discussed acknowledging your mistakes, accepting responsibility, and making amends. But even after you've done all those things, you may still struggle with forgiving yourself. You may find yourself stuck in guilt, shame, or self-blame.

So, what's the final step to forgiving yourself? It's self-compassion. Self-compassion means treating yourself with kindness, understanding, and forgiveness. It means accepting yourself, flaws and all, and recognizing that you deserve love and forgiveness.

Self-compassion doesn't mean excusing or justifying your mistakes. It doesn't mean forgetting about the harm you've caused. It simply means recognizing that you are human and imperfect and deserve to be treated with kindness and understanding like anyone else.

One way to practice self-compassion is to use positive self-talk. Replace negative thoughts with positive and compassionate ones, for instance, "I am growing and learning from my experiences" or "I am worthy of love and forgiveness despite my flaws."

Remember that forgiving yourself is a process, not a one-time event. It may take time and effort to release your guilt and shame fully. But with self-compassion and the other steps we've talked about, you can move forward toward healing and growth.

I hope this series on forgiveness has been helpful to you. If you have any questions or want to discuss this topic, please get in touch with me or anyone else at the church.

Blessings,

[Your Name]

Day Five Email

Subject: Celebrating Your Progress

Dear [church member],

As we wrap up our series on forgiveness, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the progress that you have made. Forgiveness is not an easy process, and it takes time and effort to work through the pain and hurt that comes with it. But you have taken the necessary steps to heal and move forward.

Celebrating your progress is important, no matter how small it may seem. Each step you take is a step in the right direction, and each moment of reflection and self-forgiveness is a step towards a more fulfilling life. Remember to be kind and patient with yourself as you continue on this journey.

As always, if you need support or guidance along the way, please don't hesitate to reach out to me or any other members of our church community.

Blessings,

[Your name]

Day Six Email

Subject: Moving Forward with Forgiveness

Dear [church member],

I hope that you found our series on forgiveness helpful and informative. While forgiveness can be challenging, it is also incredibly freeing and empowering. Letting go of anger and resentment makes room for love and compassion in our lives.

Remember that forgiveness is not a one-time event but a continuous practice. It's important to regularly check in with ourselves and work through any unresolved emotions that may arise. Keep the lines of communication open with those you have forgiven, and continue to approach every situation with a forgiving heart.

As we move forward, let's continue to support each other and encourage one another in our journey toward forgiveness. Together, we can create a more loving and compassionate world.

Blessings,

[Your name]

Repurposing a sermon into an email sequence is a great way to reach your congregation beyond the pulpit. To keep your congregation engaged and reinforce your sermon's key points, you can break down the message into bite-sized pieces and send them sequentially.

Various email tools are available to make this process easier, such as Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and Sendinblue.

If you want free email software for churches to send emails to their members, check out our article featuring ten options.

With these tools at your disposal, you can effectively communicate your message and help your congregation grow in their faith.

How to use ChatGPT to generate a sermon into an SEO-optimized blog article.

Transforming a sermon into an engaging and SEO-friendly blog post can be challenging. However, with the help of ChatGPT, you can streamline the process and create content that resonates with your online audience.

Learn how to repurpose your sermon with ChatGPT to reach more people and optimize for SEO. Write clear messages, engaging headlines, and subheadings, and maximize your content for search engines to boost your blog's traffic.

Prompt

Please help me turn the following sermon into an SE0-optimized blog [PASTE SERMON HERE]

ChatGPT Output

Title: Finding Forgiveness for Yourself: Lessons from Judas' Story

Meta Description: Learn how to forgive yourself by following four steps inspired by Judas' story in Matthew 27:1-10. Discover the healing power of self-forgiveness and the grace of God.

Keywords: forgiveness, self-forgiveness, Judas, Matthew 27, the grace of God, sin, healing

For a full-length article, please download the PDF here.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sermon repurposing with ChatGPT is an innovative and effective way to maximize your sermons' impact and reach new audiences. By transforming your messages into various formats, you'll save time and connect with more people on different platforms.

Embrace the power of ChatGPT and watch your sermons come to life in new and engaging ways, touching the hearts and minds of countless individuals. It's time to revolutionize your ministry – are you ready to take the leap?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is ChatGPT, and how can it help repurpose sermons?

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence language model that can generate human-like text based on given prompts. ChatGPT's advanced natural language processing algorithms can help pastors create various content formats using their sermons, such as blogs, newsletters, social media captions, and more.

By using ChatGPT, pastors can save time and effort in creating relevant content for their ministry.

2. How can pastors use AI to repurpose their sermons?

Pastors can use AI tools like ChatGPT to generate content based on their sermons. ChatGPT can easily handle sermon transcripts or texts using natural language commands. ChatGPT can create various content formats from given prompts, allowing pastors to repurpose their sermons as social media captions, blog posts, or TikTok videos.

3. What are the benefits of using ChatGPT for sermon repurposing?

Using AI like ChatGPT to repurpose sermons can save pastors time and effort creating new content. It can also help pastors reach a wider audience by generating different formats of content that cater to different platforms and mediums. Additionally, repurposing sermons can help deepen the impact of the pastoral message and reinforce key theological concepts.

4. What are some ways to use ChatGPT for sermon repurposing?

ChatGPT can help pastors repurpose their sermons in a variety of ways. Some of the ways pastors can use ChatGPT include:

• Generating blog posts and articles
• Creating social media captions and hashtags
• Producing newsletters and email marketing content
• Developing sermon discussion questions for Bible study groups
• Creating sermon series prompts for congregational reflection

5. How does ChatGPT work?

ChatGPT works by using a generative AI model that is trained on a diverse corpus of text data. ChatGPT generates human-like responses when given a prompt or text input. Regarding sermon repurposing, pastors can input a sermon transcript or passage, and ChatGPT will generate new content based on the input.

6. Can pastors ask ChatGPT to write their sermons for them?

While ChatGPT can generate human-like text, pastors are not recommended to rely on AI-generated content for their sermons. Effective preaching requires a level of vulnerability and personal connection with the congregation that AI-generated content cannot replicate.

However,  AI-generated content has its own set of benefits and advantages when it comes to preaching. For instance, AI can provide in-depth analysis of specific Bible verses, create unique sermon outlines, and help pastors organize their thoughts and arguments more efficiently.

Additionally, AI technology can translate sermons into different languages, allowing pastors to reach a wider audience. Moreover, AI-generated content can help churches stay informed about their members by analyzing reactions and feedback to sermons.

Although AI cannot fully replace the emotional and personal aspects of preaching, it can enhance the effectiveness and impact of sermons.