Sermon-Prep Research Worksheet

A place to organize your own research on a passage, from first reading to sources. It does not interpret the passage or write anything for you; your study, prayer, and judgment shape the message.

A study organizer, not a sermon writer. This worksheet keeps your own research notes in one place. It does not interpret any passage, suggest what a passage means, or write sermon content. You do the study, the interpretation, and the writing.

Jump to your worksheet ↓ Your entries are saved in this browser only.

1. Passage

Passage reference

The passage you are studying. It appears at the top of your worksheet and in the AI research prompts.

What this study is for (optional)

Notes on where the passage begins and ends (optional)

2. Read it in several translations

Translations you read

One per line. Note whichever translations or versions you use.

Differences in wording you noticed

3. Observations

What the text says, before deciding what it means.

Who: people or groups mentioned

What happens or is said

Where: places mentioned

When: time markers

Repeated words or phrases

Structure and flow (sections, connecting words, contrasts, lists)

Other observations

4. Context

Historical and cultural context notes

For example: author, audience, setting, and customs, with the source for each note.

Literary context notes

For example: the type of writing, and what comes right before and after the passage.

5. Cross-references

Cross-references you want to look at

One per line, with a short note of why you listed it if you like.

6. Key words to look up

Add each word you want to study, then record what you find in your lexicon, dictionary, or word-study tools.

7. Questions to research

Questions you want to look into

One per line.

8. Sources consulted

Keep track of what you read so you can cite it and find it again.

9. Application questions to think through

Questions you want to reflect on as you prepare

One per line. These are your own questions; the tool does not suggest answers.

10. Other notes (optional)

Anything else from your study

Optional: AI research prompts

If you use an AI chat tool for research support, these prompts are built from what you entered above. Each one asks for research notes only and says "Do not write sermon content."

Verify everything. AI tools can be confidently wrong, including about Bible references, word meanings, history, and sources, and they can make up books or quotes that do not exist. Check every answer against trusted sources before you rely on it. Keep personal information about people out of AI tools.

Enter a passage reference in section 1 to see the prompts.

Your worksheet

Include empty sections, with lines to write on by hand