Sermonator does the heavy lifting — pulling the original languages, cross-references, and commentary — but the writing and reasoning are done by an AI engine (Claude or ChatGPT). You bring your own key to that engine so your work is private and billed only to you. Here's how to get one.
Why your own key? Your key lives only on your device and is used only for your requests — it's never stored on our server. You pay the AI company a few pennies per study, directly, with no middle-man. And you can cap the spending and revoke the key anytime.
Pick one engine — you only need a key for the one you'll use. Claude (Anthropic) is Sermonator's default and works beautifully.
Option A — Claude (Anthropic · recommended)
- Go to console.anthropic.com and sign up (or log in). A Google account works.
- Open Billing (or "Plans & Billing") and add a payment method, then buy a small amount of credit — $5 is plenty to start and lasts a long time.
- Set a monthly spend limit while you're there (e.g. $5 or $10). This is your safety net — the key can never spend more than you allow.
- Go to Settings → API Keys → Create Key. Name it "Sermonator."
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Copy the key (it begins with
sk-ant-). Copy it now, and save it somewhere you can get to later — a password manager or a note on your phone — because you won't be shown the full key again. (See "Can I use my key on my phone or another computer?" below.) - Back in Sermonator, make sure Claude is selected, paste the key into Your API key, and you're ready.
Option B — ChatGPT (OpenAI)
- Go to platform.openai.com and sign up (or log in). Note: this is the developer "platform," separate from a ChatGPT Plus subscription — they're billed differently.
- Open Settings → Billing, add a payment method, and add a little credit ($5 is plenty).
- Set a usage limit under Billing → Limits so the key can't overspend.
- Go to API keys → Create new secret key. Name it "Sermonator."
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Copy the key (it begins with
sk-). Copy it now, and save it somewhere you can get to later — a password manager or a note on your phone — because it's shown only once. (See "Can I use my key on my phone or another computer?" below.) - Back in Sermonator, select ChatGPT (OpenAI), paste the key into Your API key, and you're ready.
A few honest answers
- How much will it cost me?
- A typical study runs a few cents. For most people $5 of credit lasts weeks or months. Your spend limit is the hard ceiling.
- Is it safe to paste my key here?
- Yes. Your key is held in your browser only. Tick "Remember on this device" to keep it for next time, or leave it unticked and it's gone when you close the tab. It is never sent to or stored on Sermonator's server.
- Can I use my key on my phone or another computer?
- Yes — and you do not need a new key for each one. Your key works from any device or browser; it belongs to your Anthropic/OpenAI account, not to one gadget. The catch is that "Remember on this device" only saves it in that one browser, so a new phone or laptop won't have it pre-filled. The fix is simple: save the key once in a password manager (Apple Passwords, Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden, etc.) or in a note on your phone, then just paste that same key in wherever you use Sermonator. Save it once, reuse it everywhere — no need to create a new one each time.
- What if I want to stop, or think my key leaked?
- Delete the key in your Anthropic/OpenAI dashboard — it stops working instantly — and make a fresh one. No harm done.
- Do I need both keys?
- No. One is enough. Claude is the default and a great choice.