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Create and publish a sermon

Add your sermon audio and details, then publish the finished sermon on your public site.

Admins and Managers can create and publish sermons. An Admin can also lock a sermon so that only Admins can edit it.

1. Start a new sermon​

Go to New Sermon in the management menu, or start a new sermon directly.

2. Add the audio​

Under Audio Source, select Choose File and choose an MP3 from your device.

Wait for the upload to finish. The editor then shows the recording's length and file size and gives you an audio player for checking it. If the MP3 contains title, album, or artist tags, you can use the suggestions to fill in matching sermon details.

The new sermon editor showing the Audio Source upload and Sermon Details fields

You can save a sermon without audio if you need to prepare its details first.

3. Enter the sermon details​

Complete the required fields:

  • Title
  • Date - use Today, Last Sunday, or Next Sunday to quick select a date or enter a date manually

Add any useful optional details:

  • Add Passage - type a Bible reference, then select the add button that appears. You can add more than one passage.
  • Series - search for and select one series. If you do not see this field, series have been hidden for your church. An Admin can change that under Settings > Tweaks.
  • Preacher - search for and select each preacher. A sermon can have more than one preacher.
  • Description - write plain text or Markdown, then use Preview to check the result.
  • Time of day and Meeting Type - enter the service time and select its meeting type. Recent values appear as quick choices.

If a preacher, series, or meeting type does not exist, the editor can create it without leaving the sermon.

4. Add media, tags, and attachments​

Under Media, you can choose a widescreen display image and add a YouTube or Vimeo link. A 1920 by 1080 image works well. You can upload an image or reuse one from your image gallery.

Under Tags, type comma-separated terms. Select a suggested tag to reuse it.

Under Attachments:

  1. Enter an Attachment Name that listeners will understand, such as Discussion questions.
  2. Select Choose Attachment and choose the file.
  3. Repeat for up to five attachments. Each file must be smaller than 5 MB.
The Media, Tags, and Attachments sections in the sermon editor

5. Check advanced options​

Open Advanced and use only the options you need:

  • Unlisted keeps the sermon out of public lists, search, feeds, and list embeds. Anyone with its direct public link can still open it. Read how unlisted content works before using it for sensitive material.
  • Lock: only admins can edit prevents Managers from changing the sermon. Only an Admin sees this option.
  • Bible Version overrides the church-wide version for this sermon. See change the Bible version.
  • Podcast Artwork sets square artwork for this episode in podcast feeds. This is separate from the widescreen display image. See sermon image priority.
  • Schedule Publish Time sets an exact future publication time in your church's timezone. This feature only appears when advanced scheduling is enabled.
Advanced sermon controls for visibility, Bible version, podcast artwork, and scheduling

6. Save and publish​

Select Save Changes. The first save creates an unpublished sermon, so you can return to it without making it public.

When the sermon is ready, select Publish. Its status changes to Published. A published sermon with a future Date stays off the public site until that date.

If you entered a Schedule Publish Time, save the sermon instead of publishing it immediately. The status shows Scheduled for Publishing. Clear the schedule if you want to use the normal Publish button.

After publication, use Copy Public Link at the top of the editor to check or share the public page.

If this did not work​

  • The file will not upload: Check that it is an MP3, that it is within the limit shown by the editor, and that the upload finished before you saved. Try a smaller export if your connection is unreliable.
  • Save Changes is unavailable: Add a title and valid date, then correct any red validation messages.
  • The sermon is published but not visible: Check that its date is not in the future and that neither the sermon nor its selected series or preachers are unlisted.
  • You cannot edit the sermon: Ask an Admin whether Lock: only admins can edit is enabled or whether the account has a billing issue.
  • Schedule Publish Time is missing: Ask an Admin to enable advanced scheduling for the church.