Click on the link below that most closely describes your problem.

Search Questions:

• I don't get any results when I search.
• I can't find the highlighted word.
• I would like tips for searching.
• I am ready for advanced searching tips.

I don't get any results when I search.

We currently store three different versions of our sermon scripts: PDF, PDF with notes and a web version. Not all sermons in our database are available in all three formats. The search page - here - only searches through the text of the sermons we have available in web-version format (W in the checklists).

We currently cannot search through the PDF formatted sermons (though we are working on being able to do that).

I can't find the highlighted word.

If you searched for a word or a phrase and a list appeared, click on the W check of any of the messages in the list. The message will display and the word you searched for should be highlighted. See the example:

Searched for: 'pig'

...At last, this boy who had been a son of the Master finally hired himself to be the servant of a pig farmer (and remember how Jews felt about pigs!) This was the most degrading position imaginable. The young man had sunk as low as he could possibly go...

If you can't find the highlighted word or phrase that you searched for...

• Make sure you are in the W (web) version of the message. The P (PDF) and N (PDF with notes) versions will not highlight.
• Make sure all the appropriate words have a captial letter at the beginning. If you search for Holy Spirit by using 'holy spirit' it will not highlight the word because you need to use a capital 'H' and capital 'S'. However 'Holy Spirit' is still in the message you just need to find it without the hilghlight function.

I would like tips for searching.

Here are a few tips for searching with our search feature:

• Type the exact word or phrase you are looking for.
• If you are using proper names capitalize the first letter. This will help the hilighting function find the text.
  (EXAMPLE: Use 'Jesus' rather than 'jesus' or 'Holy Spirit' rather than 'holy spirit'.)
• If you are having trouble getting search results, pare down the word or phrase to its smallest segment when searching.
• Be aware: small words will be found as parts of other words.
  (EXAMPLE: When searching for 'pig' results are 'pig', 'pigs', 'pigpen' and 'pigeon'.)
• Don't use simple words like at, it, the, or even God unless you use them in a phrase.
  (EXAMPLE: 'kingdom of God')

I am ready for advanced searching tips.

If you feel very comfortable with our search instructions here are some addtional features which you may find useful:

• If you are looking for multiple words in a message but they aren't part of a specific phrase you can...
  • Perform multiple searches - once for each word. And after each search keep a list of the program numbers that appear. After you are done you can compare the lists to see if any of the program numbers appear under each search.
  • Use the % in the search field - The % is called a 'Wildcard' character. If you search for 'grace%David%Psalm' you will get all the messages that contain grace and David and Psalm somewhere in the text.

    Note: Searching with this method will never display the found words as highlighted text. To find the words on the web page you will have to use the following technique.

• If you searched for a word or phrase but it is not highlighted in the message - Click on the 'Edit' option at this window. A drop-down list should appear. Select the option that says something like 'find on page' or 'find on this page.' Retype your word or phrase in the box and this function should find the missing highlighted word or phrase.