Knowledge > Products > SermonWise AI > Features

SermonWise AI Features

Complete feature catalog for SermonWise AI, covering the generation pipeline, supplemental materials, community sharing, templates, dashboard analytics, and all API routes.

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1. Core Sermon Generation

The flagship feature. A multi-step wizard guides the user through inputs, then streams a fully structured sermon outline aligned to their theological tradition.

Item	Value
UI Route	/sermons/app/new
Component	SermonWizard (src/components/sermons/SermonWizard.tsx)
API	POST /api/sermons/generate
Auth	Required (Supabase session)

User Flow (SermonWizard Steps)

Step 1: Scripture Passage  — free-text (e.g., "Romans 8:28-30"), validated against sai_scripture
Step 2: Theme (optional)   — free-text, influences prompt framing
Step 3: Theological Tradition — 17 traditions via LensSelector component
Step 4: Sermon Method      — 12 methods from sai_sermon_methods OR legacy style picker
Step 5: Target Audience    — Mixed Congregation, Youth, Young Adults, Seniors, etc.
Step 6: Voice Style (opt)  — tone, language, illustration frequency, application emphasis
Step 7: Generate           — streams NDJSON progress events with stage labels

AI Generation Pipeline (Pseudocode)

function generateSermon(input):
    // 1. Validate quota
    usage = fetchUsage(user_id, current_month_year)
    if usage.generation_count >= tierLimit: return QUOTA_EXCEEDED

    // 2. Fetch inputs
    scripture  = query sai_scripture WHERE book/chapter/verse match (WEB translation)
    ragContext = query unified_rag_content matching passage + lens, LIMIT 20
    lens       = query sai_theological_lenses WHERE id = input.lens_id
    method     = query sai_sermon_methods WHERE id = input.method_id

    // 3. Assemble prompt (sermon-prompt.ts)
    prompt = assemblePrompt(scripture, ragContext, lens.vocabulary,
        lens.hermeneutics, method.structure, method.lens_adaptations[lens],
        input.audience, input.voiceStyle)

    // 4. Stream LLM response
    model = tier == 'sermon_pro' ? 'higher-tier' : 'gpt-4o-mini'
    stream = callLLM(model, prompt)
    for chunk in stream: yield { event: 'progress', stage, content }

    // 5. Persist
    INSERT INTO sermons (...) VALUES (...)
    UPSERT sermon_generation_usage SET generation_count += 1

    return parseSermonOutline(stream.fullText)

Output Structure

interface SermonOutline {
    title: string
    sections: { id: string; title: string; content: string;
                 scriptures: string[];
                 illustration?: { title: string; content: string; source: string } }[]
    applications: string[]
    prayerSuggestions: string[]
    metadata: { theologicalLens: string; method: string; style: string;
                audience: string; wordCount: number;
                ragContentUsed: string[]; idealLengthMinutes: number }
}

Illustrations — the shape is a contract, and the model broke it for four months (fixed 2026-09-23). Generation is multi-pass (src/lib/sermon-multipass.ts): skeleton → sections in parallel → close. The section tool once asked for a NESTED illustration object; Anthropic guarantees valid JSON but does NOT enforce schema types, and from May to Sept 2026 74 of 132 stored sections (56%) came back with the illustration as a STRING — 66 of raw <parameter name=…> markup (story lost) and 8 of JSON (story intact). The viewer's guard hid them, so pastors silently got sermons with half their illustrations missing. Now:

• The section tool asks for FLAT illustration_title / illustration_content / illustration_source.
• The skeleton assigns each section a different illustration_subject, so parallel sections stop reusing the same story (one live sermon used Augustine twice).
• src/lib/sermon-illustration.ts (client-safe) normalises every shape; the generator uses it on write and SermonResult + the community viewer use it on read, so the 8 recoverable legacy illustrations reappear without any stored row being modified. Markup never renders.
• Verified live against the real model: 9/9 sections illustrated, 9 distinct subjects, no markup.

Rate Limiting

Constraint	Value
Per-user burst	2 requests per 30 seconds
Monthly quota (Free)	2 sermons
Monthly quota (Pro)	15 sermons
Quota reset	1st of each month (keyed by month_year column)

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2. Title Generator

Lightweight standalone tool for sermon title brainstorming. Top-of-funnel SEO feature.

Item	Value
UI Route	/sermons/titles
API	POST /api/sermons/titles
Auth	Not required
Rate limit	5 per 60s per IP
Output	8-10 title suggestions (JSON array)
LLM	gpt-4o-mini, temperature 0.8
Cost	Free, no quota consumption

Saved Titles

Authenticated users can bookmark titles from the generator. Saved titles are stored in saved_sermon_titles (one row per title, user_id-scoped) and visible in two places:

1. Title Generator page (/sermons/titles): A "Show/Hide Saved Titles" toggle reveals the user's bookmarks with Use This → and Remove actions. Component: TitleGeneratorTool.
2. Dashboard (/sermons/app): The SavedTitlesSection component fetches saved titles on mount and renders them after the All Sermons grid — visible only when the user has at least one saved title (silent empty state). Each card shows the title, angle, style pill, scripture, theme, and tradition; Use This → pre-fills the sermon wizard; Remove is optimistically instant with snap-back on failure. PostHog events: saved_title_used and saved_title_removed (both with source: 'dashboard').

Saved Titles API	Method	Purpose
/api/sermons/titles/saved	GET	Fetch user's saved titles
/api/sermons/titles/saved	POST	Save a new title
/api/sermons/titles/saved?id=	DELETE	Remove a saved title

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3. Sermon Derivatives (Supplemental Materials)

After generating a sermon, users derive supplemental materials saved as sermon_derivative records linked to the parent sermon.

Item	Value
UI Route	/sermons/app/[id] (Materials tab)
Components	DerivativePanel, MaterialsTab
API	POST /api/sermons/derive
Tier gate	Pro only (sermon_pro)
Monthly cap	60 per user per month (added 2026-05-11)

Monthly Derivative Cap (2026-05-11)

Pro users are capped at 60 derivative generations per calendar month. This protects margins — at the cap, worst-case LLM spend ≈ $2.10/user vs the $19.95/mo plan price.

Rationale: 15 sermons × 3 derivative types = 45 + 33% retry headroom = 60.

Implementation:

• sermon_generation_usage table gains a derivative_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0 column.
• Two new Supabase RPCs: increment_derivative_usage_capped(user_id, month_year, limit) and decrement_derivative_usage(user_id, month_year).
• Route reserves the slot atomically BEFORE the LLM call and refunds on any failure path (no LLM response, JSON parse failure, DB save failure, unhandled exception).
• Cap returns HTTP 429 with { error, limit, current }. DerivativePanel surfaces a pastoral "monthly limit reached" banner (dismissible) rather than a raw error string.
• getSermonUsage() now returns derivativeCount, derivativeLimit, derivativeRemaining fields for Pro users so the dashboard can surface remaining budget.

Migration: churchwiseai-web/migrations/2026-05-11-derivative-monthly-cap.sql

Derivative Types

Type	Description	Length	max_tokens
Children's Sermon	Age-appropriate retelling (5-7 min)	~500 words	6144
Small Group Discussion Guide	8-10 questions with leader notes	~800 words	4096
Social Media Snippets	Instagram (150-300 words) + Twitter (280 chars) + Bulletin (2-3 sentences) + JSON structure	~400 words	5120
Slide Deck Outline	Slide titles, bullets, scripture refs	~400 words	4096

max_tokens rationale: social_media was originally 2048 (too small — caused JSON truncation and parse failures for Pro users in production). Bumped to 5120 on 2026-05-11. children needs 6144 because it generates a multi-field structured JSON (story + activity + prayer + object lesson). small_group at 4096 handles 6-8 discussion questions with leader notes comfortably. Route: src/app/api/sermons/derive/route.ts.

function generateDerivative(sermon_id, type):
    // 1. Pro-tier gate — 403 if free user
    // 2. Atomic cap check — 429 if derivative_count >= 60
    sermon = query sermons WHERE id = sermon_id AND user_id = current_user
    result = callLLM('claude-haiku', buildDerivativePrompt(sermon.content, type))
    // On failure: refund derivative_count via decrement RPC
    INSERT INTO sermons (status='derivative', parent_sermon_id, ...) VALUES (...)
    return result

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4. Community Sharing & Showcase

Community (User-Submitted)

Item	Value
UI Route	/sermons/community
API	GET/POST /api/sermons/community
Auth	Browse: no, Submit: yes

Features: search by keyword/scripture/theme, filter by tradition, sort by newest/viewed/reviewed. Moderation queue at /sermons/app/moderate (founder-only). Users can post star ratings and text reviews.

Sharing restrictions (2026-05-11): Derivative sermons (status='derivative') — children's sermons, small group guides, social media posts — cannot be shared to the community. The API returns 400 with a clear error. The "Share to Community" button is hidden in SermonWorkspace when sermonStatus === 'derivative'. Attempting to share a derivative would fail at the DB layer because shared_sermons.scripture_reference is NOT NULL and derivatives have scripture_reference=null.

Showcase (Pre-Generated)

Item	Value
UI Route	/sermons/showcase
Components	ShowcaseBrowser, ShowcaseCompare

Pre-generated sets showing one passage across all 17 traditions side by side. Demonstrates the key differentiator without signup. PDF export available.

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5. Sermon Templates

18 free, pre-generated templates for special occasions. No auth required. SEO content designed to attract organic traffic and convert to signups.

Item	Value
UI Route	/sermons/templates
Component	TemplateClientView

Categories

Category	Templates
Life Events	Funeral, Wedding, Baptism, Baby Dedication
Church Calendar	Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost
Cultural Holidays	Thanksgiving, New Year, Independence Day
Church Milestones	Ordination, Church Anniversary, Building Dedication

Each includes: title, suggested scriptures, full outline, applications, prayer suggestions.

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6. Dashboard & Analytics

Route: /sermons/app (authenticated). Component: SermonDashboard.

Section	Content
Stats Row	Time saved (~5 min/sermon), total sermons, total materials, traditions explored (x/17), usage remaining
Bible Book Chart	Donut chart by Bible book (BibleBookChart component)
OT/NT Balance	Visual ratio of Old vs New Testament sermons
Traditions Progress	Progress bar: x of 17 traditions explored
Quick Actions	New Sermon, Title Ideas, Browse Community
Sermon Grid	Searchable, filterable, tagged by tradition/method
Saved Titles	SavedTitlesSection — visible after the sermon grid when user has ≥1 saved title; silent empty state; Use This → pre-fills wizard; optimistic Remove

function getDashboardStats(user_id):
    sermons   = query sermons WHERE user_id AND status != 'deleted'
    materials = query sermon_derivative WHERE parent_sermon_id IN (ids)
    usage     = query sermon_generation_usage WHERE user_id AND month_year = current
    return { totalSermons, totalMaterials, timeSaved: count * 5,
             traditionsExplored: DISTINCT(lens_id).count, usageRemaining,
             bibleBooks: GROUP BY book, otNtRatio }

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7. Compare Page (Marketing)

Route: /sermons/compare. Conversion page showing generic AI vs SermonWise output.

Passage	Tradition	What It Shows
Romans 8:28	Reformed	Sovereignty emphasis, TULIP alignment
Matthew 28:19	Baptist (SBC)	Believer's baptism, Great Commission focus
Acts 2:1-4	Pentecostal	Holy Spirit empowerment, gifts activation
John 6:53	Roman Catholic	Eucharistic theology, Real Presence

Each shows a "Generic AI" column (bland, vague) next to "SermonWise" (tradition-specific vocabulary, proper hermeneutics).

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8. Sermon Methods

12 structured methods in sai_sermon_methods with section templates and per-lens adaptation.

#	Method	Description
1	Textual Exposition	Verse-by-verse through the passage
2	Topical Development	Theme-driven with supporting texts
3	Narrative Arc	Story structure (tension, climax, resolution)
4	Doctrinal Teaching	Systematic unpacking of a doctrine
5	Application-Driven	Starts with life situation, works back to text
6	Dialogical	Question-and-answer format
7	Inductive Discovery	Observation, interpretation, application
8	Redemptive-Historical	Places passage in salvation history arc
9	Liturgical Reflection	Tied to lectionary / church calendar
10	Pastoral Care	Addresses suffering, doubt, pastoral needs
11	Evangelistic Appeal	Outreach-focused, clear gospel presentation
12	Prophetic Challenge	Social justice, kingdom ethics, prophetic voice

Each method adapts per tradition (e.g., "Textual Exposition" for Reformed emphasizes covenant theology and word studies; for Pentecostal, Spirit illumination and experience).

Library: churchwiseai-web/src/lib/sermon-methods.ts

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9. Database Schema

sermons

Column	Type	Notes
id	UUID PK
user_id	UUID FK profiles	Owner
title	TEXT	Generated title
scripture_reference	TEXT	e.g., "Romans 8:28-30"
theme	TEXT	Optional
theological_lens_id	UUID FK sai_theological_lenses
sermon_style	TEXT	Legacy: expository/topical/narrative/devotional
method_id	UUID FK sai_sermon_methods	Structured method
target_audience	TEXT
content	JSONB	Full SermonOutline object
status	TEXT	draft/published/shared/deleted/derivative
is_shared, author_name, view_count	—	Community sharing fields
created_at, updated_at	TIMESTAMPTZ

sermon_generation_usage

Composite PK: (user_id, month_year). Tracks generation_count, last_generation_at, and (as of 2026-05-11) derivative_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0 for the monthly derivative cap. Two Postgres RPCs manage the derivative counter atomically: increment_derivative_usage_capped and decrement_derivative_usage.

sermon_derivative

Column	Type	Notes
id	UUID PK
parent_sermon_id	UUID FK sermons
type	TEXT	children_sermon/discussion_guide/social_media/slide_deck
content	JSONB
created_at	TIMESTAMPTZ

profiles (relevant columns)

subscription_tier (free/sermon_pro), free_tier_sermon_limit (default 2).

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10. API Route Catalog

All under churchwiseai-web/src/app/api/sermons/.

Route	Method	Auth	Purpose
generate	POST	Yes	Generate sermon (streams NDJSON)
titles	POST	No	Title suggestions
list	GET	Yes	User's sermons
usage	GET	Yes	Monthly quota
stats	GET	Yes	Dashboard statistics
[id]	GET/DELETE	Yes	Sermon CRUD
[id]/derivatives	GET/POST	Yes	Materials
checkout	POST	Yes	Stripe checkout session
community	GET/POST	Mixed	Browse/submit shared sermons
community/[id]	GET	No	View shared sermon
community/[id]/reviews	POST	Yes	Submit review
community/moderate	POST	Founder	Approve/reject submissions
lectionary	GET	No	Lectionary readings
methods	GET	No	Sermon methods list
portal	GET	Yes	Multi-endpoint batch fetch
derive	POST	Yes	Derive supplemental materials

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11. Key Library Files

All in churchwiseai-web/src/lib/.

File	Purpose
sermon-pricing.ts	Tier definitions, Stripe price IDs, trial config
sermon-brand.ts	Brand config (domain, colors, tagline, nav)
sermon-usage.ts	Quota enforcement, usage tracking
sermon-prompt.ts	Prompt assembly, RAG fetch, scripture, vocabulary
sermon-methods.ts	12 methods, section templates, per-lens adaptation
sermon-voice-style.ts	Voice style customization (tone, language, illustrations)
sermon-export.ts	Export to Word (.docx) and Markdown
sermon-lectionary.ts	Lectionary calendar data, date-to-reading mapping

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12. Component Inventory

All in churchwiseai-web/src/components/sermons/.

Component	Purpose
SermonWizard	Multi-step generation form
SermonResult	Displays generated outline
SermonWorkspace	Full-page sermon editor (view/edit/materials)
SermonNav	Top navigation bar
SermonFooter	Footer with legal links and branding
SermonHero	Marketing hero section
SermonUpgradeButton	Free-to-Pro upgrade CTA
LensSelector	17-tradition picker
BibleBookChart	Donut chart by Bible book
VocabularyHighlighter	Highlights tradition-specific terms
DerivativePanel	Generate supplemental materials
MaterialsTab	Lists derivatives for a sermon
ShowcaseBrowser	Browse showcase entries
ShowcaseCompare	Side-by-side tradition comparison
TemplateClientView	Renders free templates
CrossPromoBanner	Promotes ChurchWiseAI voice/chatbot
OnboardingGate	New user onboarding flow
InlineTitleGenerator	Embedded title widget
SermonBreadcrumb	Breadcrumb navigation
SavedTitlesSection	Dashboard section — saved title cards, Use This → wizard link, optimistic remove

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13. SEO & Caching Headers

Route Pattern	Robots	Cache
/sermons (homepage)	index, follow	ISR
/sermons/pricing	index, follow	Cached
/sermons/templates	index, follow	Cached
/sermons/community	index, follow	Revalidate
/sermons/showcase	index, follow	Cached
/sermons/compare	index, follow	Cached
/sermons/privacy, /terms	index, follow	Cached
/sermons/login, /signup	noindex	No cache
/sermons/app/*	noindex	No cache, private

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14. Cross-Promotion

SermonWise surfaces ChurchWiseAI products via CrossPromoBanner:

• Appears on dashboard and post-generation
• Promotes Voice Agent and Chatbot to engaged pastors
• Links to churchwiseai.com pricing, dismissible per-session

Reverse: ITW illustration pages link to SermonWise for full generation. ChurchWiseAI blog posts about sermon prep link to sermonwise.ai.

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See Also

• SermonWise AI Overview -- product identity, pricing, architecture
• IllustrateTheWord Premium -- content source for RAG pipeline
• Chatbot Tools -- tool architecture pattern (similar to derivatives)
• API Catalog -- full API inventory across all products
• Strategy -- how SermonWise fits go-to-market