Sermon note editor

Quick start

1. Open a note from the library.
2. Edit the title in the header — changes autosave.
3. Switch between Prep and Sermon tabs.
4. Write in the rich-text editor for the active tab.
5. On large screens, use the References sidebar to insert verses, commentaries, or quotes.
6. Review Linked services and presentations below the tab controls.

You should see a save status indicator (saving, saved, or error) in the header.

Deep dive

Header

• Back — return to the library, or to the service workspace when opened with ?workspaceReturn=
• Title — inline editable display name for the note
• Save status — autosave runs about one second after you stop typing
• Ezra — open grounded chat for Scripture, commentary, and quote questions, or to propose edits to the active tab
• Delete — permanently remove the note (confirmation required)

Prep and Sermon tabs

Tab	Content
Prep	Research, outline, scriptures, commentary notes — markdown-backed rich text
Sermon	Final spoken manuscript for delivery

Each tab has its own editor content. Switching tabs does not lose unsaved work — autosave persists both fields.

AI actions on the Prep tab are documented in AI sermon prep and AI sermon speech. Sermon tab actions for presentations and service attachment have their own articles.

Visibility notes: Ezra chat appears when sermon Ezra chat beta is enabled. Select text in Prep or Sermon to ask Ezra to rewrite it, find verses, or find commentary. Ezra only uses licensed Bible, commentary, and quote sources and church memory — it will not invent verse wording or quotations. Proposed edits apply only after you choose Apply. Generate grounded prep appears only when prep beta is enabled. Generate speech from prep always shows (disabled when prep is empty); speech beta switches proposal review vs direct write. Create presentation always shows when sermon speech exists and opens a manual split wizard. Generate presentation always shows when sermon speech exists and queues a background job (theme required; optional images; AI presentation beta). Attach to service appears only with service-attachment beta, a workspace return context, sermon speech, and a linked presentation.

References sidebar (desktop)

The right sidebar (lg screens and up) uses the same card and header style as the presentation editor Styling panel. Drag the left edge to resize it. Minimize it with the chevron; reopen it from the editor header. When Ask Ezra is open, chat docks under References in the same column.

The panel has three tabs:

Tab	Purpose
Verses	Look up Bible passages and insert into the active tab
Commentaries	Browse commentary excerpts by book and chapter
Quotes	Search the quote library and insert

Book and chapter selection is shared between Verses and Commentaries so both stay in sync.

Verse insert settings

In the Verses tab, configure:

• Show verse numbers — on or off
• Layout — paragraph or one verse per line

Settings save to your user profile via Sermon note verse settings. Your default Bible translation comes from Bible settings (or the first translation you use if you have not set one yet).

Linked artifacts

The Linked services and presentations panel lists service orders and presentations connected to this note. Refresh after generating a presentation or attaching to a service.

Autosave and conflicts

• Edits debounce for about one second, then PATCH /api/sermon-notes/{id} runs.
• If another session changed the note, you may see a save error — refresh and retry.
• Revision tracking prevents silent overwrites.

Tips

• Draft research freely in Prep before moving polished prose to Sermon.
• Insert verses from the sidebar instead of typing references manually — formatting stays consistent.
• Resize the references panel by dragging its left edge on desktop.

Troubleshooting

Save error

• Refresh the page and try again — another editor tab or user may have updated the note.
• Check your network connection.

References sidebar is missing

• The sidebar is hidden on small screens. Use a wider window or desktop layout.

Commentary tab shows no results

• Confirm book and chapter match the passage you are studying.
• Some commentary sources may not cover every book.

Insert did nothing

• Click in the editor so the cursor is active, then insert from the sidebar again.