Short answers for anyone following the sermon in their language with SermonWave. Church staff can share this page, or use it to answer questions at the welcome desk.
Who it's for#
- Congregation members and visitors who use the listener page on Sunday.
- Greeters and volunteers who help people get started.
Before you start#
- A phone, tablet or computer with a web browser and an internet connection.
- Your church's QR code or listener link.
- Earbuds or headphones if you want to hear the translation.
Getting started#
- Scan your church's QR code with your phone's camera, or open the link your church shared.
- When the service is live, tap LIVE NOW.
- Choose your language, or tap Continue in original language only.
- Read along. To hear the translation, tap the speaker button.
For the full walkthrough, see How the listener page works.
FAQ#
Do I need to download an app?#
No. SermonWave works in your phone's web browser. Just open the link or scan the QR code.
Do I need an account?#
No. You don't give your name or email to follow along. Your phone remembers your language choice for next time.
Does it cost anything?#
Not for listeners. Your church provides SermonWave.
Which languages can I choose?#
The languages your church has turned on. If you don't see yours, ask the church staff.
Can I hear the translation, or only read it?#
You can read the translation in every language your church offers. Many languages can also be read aloud by a natural-sounding voice. Tap the speaker button to turn it on. If there's no sound for your language, it may be available as text only.
Why doesn't the audio start by itself?#
Phones don't let web pages play sound until you tap. Tap the speaker button each time you open the page.
Do I need headphones?#
For listening, yes, please. Earbuds or headphones keep the translation from distracting people near you and from being picked up by the pastor's microphone. You don't need them to read.
How far behind is the translation?#
The pastor's words appear a second or two after they're spoken, and the translation follows right after.
Can I scroll back to reread something?#
Yes. Scroll up any time. Tap Jump to live to return to the newest words.
How much data does it use?#
Reading captions uses very little data. Listening to the translation uses more, and watching video uses the most. On church Wi-Fi, data isn't a concern. On a mobile plan, reading is the lightest option.
Will it drain my battery?#
The biggest battery use is keeping your screen on for the whole sermon. Start with a reasonable charge, and turn down the brightness if you like. If you're only listening, you can glance at the screen less, but see the next question about screen locks.
What happens if my screen locks?#
The listener page is a web page, so your phone may pause it when the screen locks or you switch apps. Audio and captions can stop. Open the page again and it catches up with the sermon. Setting a longer auto-lock time helps.
The captions stopped. What do I do?#
If you see Reconnecting..., wait a moment. The page reconnects on its own. If nothing happens, check your internet connection and reload the page.
Can I follow from home?#
Yes. The listener page works anywhere with an internet connection. Some churches also show their video stream on the page.
Can I change the language of the menus?#
Yes. Tap the globe button marked EN at the top of the page to switch the page to Español or Français. This is separate from the sermon language.
Can I listen to past sermons?#
Yes. Your church's listener page has Recent Sermons with audio, the full transcript and a summary. You can read them in your language too.
Is my information private?#
- You don't need to give your name or email.
- Your preferences (language, light or dark mode, audio on or off, recently listened sermons) are saved only in your browser. You can clear them in your browser settings.
- SermonWave records which church, service and language you followed, and your device type, so your church can see how many people listen. Your IP address is stored only in scrambled (hashed) form. It's used to estimate your approximate city for listener statistics and maps.
- If you use Find a church near me, your phone asks first, and your location is only used to find nearby churches.
- If you send a prayer request, contact request or story, what you type goes to that church.
- SermonWave doesn't sell personal information.
For details, read the SermonWave Privacy Policy at sermonwave.com/privacy.
Is the sermon recorded?#
Your church decides what to record and publish. Recorded sermons can appear on the church's public pages with a transcript and translations. The church can choose to make a sermon unlisted or private.
Troubleshooting#
I scanned the code but nothing is live. The service hasn't started translating yet. Keep the page open and the LIVE NOW button appears by itself.
I can't hear anything. Make sure the speaker button is on, your phone isn't on silent, and the volume is up. Check that your earbuds are connected.
The text is too small or too bright. Use your phone's zoom or text size settings. The page also has a light and dark mode button at the top.
My language isn't listed. Ask a greeter or the church staff. They can tell the tech team.