Streaming Explained

Audio streaming over the internet is made possible by software technology that compresses raw sound into a much smaller file that can be sent over the internet to anyone that has internet access.

The sound file is sent over the internet from a server with special streaming software. The receiving people on the internet must also have special software to hear the audio data stream, in this case RealPlayer [click to download]:

You have the option of listening to a sermon live, listening to an archived service, or downloading a service for listening to later.

Live or Archived Services

On the Sermons page, you can click the RealAudio icon to listen to an archived service at dialup speeds. You can click the MP3 icon to listen to an archived service at broadband (DSL, cable modem, etc.) speeds. You can also click the RealVideo icon to watch an archived service (broadband connection strongly recommended). When doing this, you cannot "fast forward" through any parts of the service because you're hearing it as the data comes to your computer over the internet from the streaming server.

This is also the case when you are listening to a live service. [When you are logged in, if there a live service in progress, you will be provided a link to click on that will connect you to the service automatically -- you won't use the icons in this case.]

Downloading Services

To download a sermon for listening to later, RIGHT CLICK the icon in the Download column for the format you want. Then, from the pop up menu, select either Save Target As... (Internet Explorer) or Save Link As... (Firefox) and choose where to save the file to on your computer.

When the download is complete, you can listen to the sermon as much as you please any time you want to.

Estimated Service Download Times
28.8k Modem (1MB = 10 minutes)
56.6k Modem (1MB = 5 minutes)
128.8k ISDN or Broadband (1MB = 1 minute or faster)
(These times are approximate and will vary.)