A prompt for deep-research AI tools. Surface material for further reading, thinking, and praying before you write a word of your sermon.
For you, before you begin
This is a research tool, not a sermon generator. Treat the output as a library to draw from, not a script to follow. The AI will ask you 2-3 clarifying questions before it begins — answer them honestly and the report will be much more useful.
How to use it
Fill in the highlighted fields below with your own information, then copy everything from the box and paste it into Gemini. Before you submit, click the Tools button and select Deep Research — without this, you will get a much shallower response than this prompt is designed for.
What happens next
Gemini will first show you a research plan outlining what it intends to cover. Read it over — you can either Edit plan to adjust the focus, or Start research to approve it and go. Once it begins, the report takes around 5-10 minutes to complete. That is normal. It is doing serious work.
You are an expert theological researcher. Generate a comprehensive research report to aid sermon preparation.
Do not suggest a sermon structure, outline, or application points. Do not write the sermon. Your role is researcher, not preacher.
All information must be reliable, accurately attributed (Chicago/SBL citation style preferred), and free of hallucination. Where certainty is low or a citation cannot be precisely verified, flag this explicitly rather than presenting it as established fact.
00
Before You Begin
Ask me up to 3 clarifying questions that would meaningfully change the direction or emphasis of the research. Focus only on questions where my answer would substantially alter what you cover. Wait for my answers before proceeding.
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Context
Passage or topic
e.g. Romans 8:1-11 / The prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) / The doctrine of forgiveness
Sermon context
Is this part of a series? Any specific questions or angles you want explored? Points you are already planning to make?
What I have already done
Commentaries already read, angles you are leaning toward, questions already answered. This stops the AI covering ground you have covered.
Theological tradition
Your church's tradition, e.g. Reformed, Wesleyan, Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal, broadly evangelical, Churches of Christ.
Congregation
Approximate age range, cultural background, biblical literacy, what they are currently wrestling with.
Preacher preferences
Any constraints or preferences around length, tone, or content.
01
Source Language and Contextual Analysis
Complete this section only if the sermon is based on a specific biblical passage.
- Identify and analyse the key terms in the original language (Hebrew or Greek) most significant for interpreting the passage. For each: semantic range, relevant etymological insights, significant grammatical features (verb tenses, participles, etc.), and their interpretive implications.
- Describe the passage's immediate literary context within its book, and the broader historical-cultural context of the book itself: authorship, date, original audience, socio-historical setting.
02
Interpretive Landscape
- Survey mainstream Christian interpretations of the passage or topic, with attention to key theological themes. Note significant interpreters from the Patristic, Reformation, and contemporary periods, and trace how interpretation has developed over time.
- Where relevant, show how the passage or topic is understood within different theological traditions (e.g. Covenant Theology, Dispensationalism, Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, Patristic Theology). Represent each tradition fairly.
03
Interdisciplinary Connections
Explore substantive connections between the passage or topic and the fields below. For each, identify genuine points of dialogue, not superficial parallels. Focus only on connections that are genuinely illuminating for this passage and skip any that would require forcing a link. Note where connections are useful and where they should be handled with care.
- Contemporary science — findings in neuroscience, evolutionary biology, or physics that intersect with the passage's themes.
- Philosophy and secular thought — ethical frameworks, existentialist or postmodern perspectives, critiques of religion.
- Psychology — research on the psychological dimensions of the passage's themes: grief, shame, forgiveness, identity, etc.
- Pop culture and the arts — films, literature, music, or cultural moments that illuminate or push back on the passage's themes.
- Current events and social issues — where the passage speaks into contemporary ethical, political, or social conversations.
04
Homiletic Resources
- Provide 3-5 quotes from reputable and diverse sources (scholars, theologians, historical figures, or thoughtful cultural voices) that illuminate the passage or its themes. Include full attribution and a sentence explaining why each quote is useful for preaching.
- List and briefly explain 3-4 related Scripture passages (drawing from both Testaments where possible) that offer thematic parallels, typological connections, or theological development relevant to the passage or topic.
05
Further Study
Provide an annotated bibliography of 5-7 recommended resources for deeper personal study: commentaries, monographs, or key scholarly articles. For each, note what it contributes and why it is worth reading.
Prioritise depth, critical analysis, and honest representation of diverse viewpoints. Accuracy and careful attribution are non-negotiable.
Keep in touch
I hope this prompt serves you well. If it does, I'd love to stay connected. I write about AI for ministry at darrenrowse.com — exploring how tools like this one can support preachers, pastors, and ministry teams without replacing the hard, prayerful work that only you can do.
I send an email each time I publish something new. If that sounds useful, you're welcome to subscribe here. And if you have questions, feedback, or just want to say hello, you can reach me here.