Whether you call them homilies, sermons, or talks, there’s a lot you can learn from the spiritual leaders in our community. While in a perfect world, you’d have time to listen to everyone, that simply isn’t possible for most with limited time to spare. To help, we’ve surfaced and summarized the teachings from the audio sermons of some of the most influential priests and pastors from around town and in the Christian sphere.
You can skip to a specific section by clicking the links below.
Jump to:
- Fr. Mike Schmitz
- Buckhead Church
- Cathedral of Christ the King
- Passion City Church
- Trinity Anglican Church
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Fr. Mike Schmitz
In this homily, Fr. Mike Schmitz addresses the universal experience of moving on through life’s various transitions. He acknowledges the inherent anxiety that often arises when facing uncertainty and instability, emphasizing that this feeling is not exclusive to specific groups like graduating students but is a continuous aspect of the human journey.
Drawing upon the wisdom of Timothy Keller, Fr. Mike highlights the common human desire for stability and a sense of control over our lives. He contrasts this desire with the unpredictable reality of life, suggesting that genuine faith requires humility. This humility involves accepting that God’s plan might differ from our own preconceived notions, and he posits that worry often originates from a place of pride, where we believe we know best.
Fr. Mike then introduces a powerful declaration of faith: “My Lord and my God.” These words, inspired by Thomas’s recognition of the resurrected Jesus, serve as an affirmation of the resurrection’s reality and Jesus’s divinity. He proposes that this fundamental truth provides a solid foundation upon which we can confidently navigate the challenges and transitions of life. Furthermore, he introduces another powerful phrase for reliance: “Jesus I trust in you.”
Ultimately, Fr. Mike Schmitz encourages his listeners to embrace faith and cultivate trust in God, particularly when confronted with loss, disaster, and the unknown. He acknowledges that difficulties and sorrow may still be present, but faith offers the strength to persevere and move forward, firmly rooted in the foundational truth of Jesus’s resurrection and his divine nature.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
Matt Noble from Buckhead Church welcomes attendees and encourages connection, highlighting church events for children and students, showcasing the church’s commitment to the next generation. The service includes energetic praise and worship.
The sermon, originating from North Point, addresses the human tendency to define oneself by failures. Using the Apostle Peter’s denial of Jesus as an example, the speaker emphasizes that God views the entire story, not just single events, offering forgiveness and renewed purpose even after significant mistakes.
The message stresses that God doesn’t judge individuals based on isolated incidents but considers their complete narrative. Just as Jesus forgave Peter and gave him a leadership role, God extends grace and a fresh start, regardless of past errors. Listeners are encouraged to embrace God’s perspective and extend the same compassion to others.
The sermon concludes with a powerful message of hope and redemption, affirming that no one is beyond God’s grace or too distant from His love. The invitation to follow Jesus is open to all, irrespective of their past, and the congregation is encouraged to express their love for God, acknowledging His omniscience.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
Fr. Juan Carlos reflects on the Gospel account of the disciples gathered in fear behind locked doors after Jesus’s crucifixion. He explains that their overwhelming fear was understandable given the pain and suffering they witnessed, leading them to believe their own lives were in danger due to Jesus’s absence. Fr. Juan Carlos draws a parallel to our own lives, suggesting that when we fail to welcome the risen Christ, fear can take root and grow within us.
Fr. Juan Carlos elaborates on the detrimental effects of fear, noting that it can drive us to inauthenticity in seeking social acceptance and to arrogance as a defense mechanism. Most significantly, he states that fear erodes our trust in God, effectively closing us off from both Him and our fellow human beings. He urges the congregation not to be afraid to live out their faith in the risen Lord Jesus.
Fr. Juan Carlos emphasizes Jesus’s desire to breathe new life into us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. He encourages us to release our fears and welcome Jesus’s presence, which will enable us to open the doors we often keep locked due to excessive worry. Just as Christ offered new life to the apostles, he desires to empower us to embody and share his mercy and compassion in the world.
To help overcome fear and deepen our relationship with Christ, Fr. Juan Carlos proposes three spiritual practices for the week: daily personal prayer affirming our beloved status as God’s children, praying with loved ones to make our faith visible, and actively showing kindness to counteract the prejudice and division that fear can create.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
Levi Lusko shares a personal story about receiving news of his father’s terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis while attending a conference at Passion City Church. This experience deeply impacted him and influenced his message about finding blessings amidst life’s challenges. He emphasizes that even in the midst of spiraling and difficult times, there is an opportunity to receive and experience God’s blessings.
Using the metaphor of a “death wobble” in his Jeep, Lusko illustrates how unexpected problems can arise, even when things seem to be going smoothly. He connects this to the idea that life’s challenges can feel like a “trap door,” plunging us into chaos. However, he encourages the audience to bring their “wobbles” to scripture, specifically Matthew 5, where Jesus speaks of blessings for those who are suffering. Lusko interprets these blessings as an invitation to recognize God’s presence and purpose even in the midst of hardship.
Lusko offers two key reminders for navigating difficult times: God is near, and God is trying to develop you. He explains that spiraling moments can actually bring us closer to God’s presence and lead to personal growth, comparing it to climbing stairs rather than a smooth ski hill. He also shares his own experience with a midlife crisis, highlighting that transitions, whether early or later in life, can be challenging but ultimately lead to development.
Lusko concludes by providing six practical takeaways for dealing with spiraling moments: stick to the plan, peel away the extra, interpret your struggle accurately, retool for the current and coming season, attack the problem from all angles, and look for beauty. He emphasizes that even in chaos, there is a hidden design and that God can use these moments for good.
Listen to the full version here.
Trinity Anglican Church
Nate Smith begins his sermon by reading Revelation 1:1-19, highlighting the blessing promised to those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy. He explains that while Revelation can be challenging and even scary, it is a crucial book as it culminates biblical prophecy, clarifies Old Testament themes like resurrection and final judgment, and presents the clearest vision of Jesus in his exalted state. Smith emphasizes that the primary subject of Revelation is Jesus Christ himself, and spending time in this book can deepen our relationship with him.
Smith delves into the authorship and context of Revelation, identifying John the Apostle as the human author, based on early Christian witnesses. He recounts John’s close relationship with Jesus, being part of the inner circle of disciples and the one entrusted with Mary’s care. Smith then describes John’s later role as a leader in the early church in Ephesus and his eventual exile to the island of Patmos during a time of severe Christian persecution. Isolated and concerned for the churches under his care, John receives a powerful vision of Jesus.
The sermon focuses on John’s overwhelming vision of Jesus in Revelation 1, noting how different this glorified image was from the Jesus he knew in Galilee. Smith points out that every aspect of Jesus’s appearance in the vision has roots in the Old Testament, emphasizing Jesus’s role as our merciful high priest, God’s messenger, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the eternal Son of God. John’s reaction of falling as though dead underscores the powerful impact of this revelation, which Smith likens to a spiritual shock, instantly capturing John’s full attention.
Smith concludes by drawing parallels between John’s experience and the lives of contemporary believers. He assures those new to faith that Jesus meets them where they are, while reminding long-time Christians that they never fully comprehend Christ. For the distracted, the isolated, and those facing the end of life, Smith emphasizes the glorious, resurrected Jesus who holds the keys to death and Hades, offering comfort, hope, and the assurance of his eternal presence and victory over death.
Listen to the full version here.
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