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 his homily, Father Mike Schmitz discusses the painful nature of division, which is often surprising because it occurs with ordinary people rather than obvious villains. He uses the example of Walter White from Breaking Bad to illustrate how ordinary people can become villains through their choices. He emphasizes that this division is not a modern phenomenon, as Jesus himself foretold it, and it has been a reality for Christians throughout history, particularly within families. Schmitz notes that living in today’s “post-Christian” culture means that saying “yes” to Jesus requires taking a stand and risking being labeled a “villain” for upholding Catholic beliefs on topics like immigration and same-sex marriage. He shares his own past struggles with shame over the Church’s teachings, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining faith in a society that often disagrees with it.

The homily continues by exploring the idea that “exceptional evil is done by ordinary people,” a point Schmitz reinforces with the historical account of the German Reserve Police Battalion 101, a group of average men who chose to participate in mass killings. He uses this chilling example to challenge the audience to look for the capacity for evil not in those they oppose, but within themselves, quoting that the line between good and evil runs through every human heart. This powerful reflection serves as a reminder that we are all capable of both good and evil, and our choices define us.

Schmitz concludes with a message of hope, reiterating that the stories of ordinary people are not over. He returns to the example of Walter White, whose downfall was a result of his choices, not a predetermined fate. He then shares a moving story of an 87-year-old man who, despite a lifetime of being far from God, found redemption and became a daily prayer warrior, demonstrating that any “ordinary man” can become a saint.

Ultimately, the homily is a powerful reflection on the human condition. Schmitz reminds the audience that we are all ordinary people with the capacity to be either sinners or saints, heroes or villains. Our stories are still being written, and God can still do great things in our lives, no matter where we are in our journey.

Listen to the full version here.

Buckhead Church

​​Andy Stanley opens by sharing a personal anecdote about a train ride in Switzerland. He was on a scenic journey through the Alps, but instead of enjoying the panoramic views, he was distracted by his work—specifically, editing his book based on 84 comments from a theologian. This story serves as an analogy for life, where people often get so focused on immediate tasks and distractions that they miss out on the most valuable and irreplaceable moments and seasons. Stanley emphasizes that we miss out on “ultimate” things when we are deceived, distracted, or disobedient, urging his audience not to make the same mistake he almost did on the train.

Stanley then transitions to the core message of the sermon, presenting three things you cannot afford to miss. The first is not missing Jesus, and he immediately addresses the primary reasons people do so. The first reason is because of a church or a church leader. He shares the biblical story of a father who brings his son to the apostles for healing, but they fail. The father, however, does not give up on Jesus himself, but instead waits for Him. Stanley draws a parallel, urging his listeners not to let the hypocrisy, politics, or failures of church leaders or the church as an institution cause them to miss or dismiss Jesus.

The second reason people miss Jesus, according to Stanley, is because of something disturbing they’ve been taught about Him. He highlights that people often grow up with a specific “version” of Christianity and, when they find something they can’t stomach or believe, they reject all of it. To combat this, he challenges his audience to be adults and “find out for yourself” by reading one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). He references the biblical story of Nathaniel, who almost dismissed Jesus because he was from Nazareth, but was invited by Philip to “come and see” for himself. Stanley uses this as a powerful call to investigate Jesus directly rather than relying on secondhand information or flawed perceptions.

The third reason Stanley explores is people missing Jesus because of life itself. He acknowledges that life can be full of hardship, pain, and unfulfilled dreams, but argues that these experiences are not reasons to abandon Jesus; in fact, they are precisely why Jesus came. He notes that first-century life was unimaginably difficult, yet the oppressed and distressed flocked to Jesus. Stanley asserts that the Christian faith is centered on a King who experienced the worst of life—tragedy, injustice, and loss—and that these hardships are “baked into the story.” He concludes this point by stating that apart from Jesus, life is “pain without purpose,” and that whatever struggles a person is facing, they are a reason to embrace Jesus as their savior and king.

Listen to the full version here.

Cathedral of Christ The King

Monsignor Frank McNamee’s homily begins with a humorous anecdote about a mistaken flower delivery, which he uses as a segue to discuss the annual Archdiocese of Atlanta appeal. He shares that less than 10% of the 6,500 families in his parish have contributed, expressing his sadness over the low participation and gently reminding the congregation to donate. He also mentions an amusing exchange with the Archbishop, who said McNamee was “better at that” because he has “no shame.”

He then shifts to the Gospel reading, focusing on Jesus’s statement, “I have come to set the earth on fire.” McNamee explains that this fire is not for worldly destruction but for a deep, interior purification that sets hearts ablaze for God. He connects this to the “tongues of fire” at Pentecost, which gave courage to early Christians. This “fire,” he clarifies, is a passionate commitment to truth and justice that can be painful as it burns away pride and sin, potentially costing friendships.

The homily continues by exploring the second part of Jesus’s statement about a “baptism” and coming not for peace but for “division.” McNamee interprets this to mean that discipleship involves sharing in the “cross of Christ” and a “baptism into suffering,” not a life of comfort. He uses the example of St. Maximilian Kolbe to illustrate this point, emphasizing that following Christ may lead to opposition and division, which is a sign of fidelity to the truth.

In his conclusion, Monsignor McNamee encourages the congregation not to fear the “fire, the suffering, or the division.” He asserts that these are all part of standing with Christ, and that the path of a Christian disciple is not always easy. He challenges the faithful to embrace these difficulties as a necessary part of a passionate and committed life in the service of God.

Listen to the full version here.

Passion City Church

In a sermon by Brad Jones, he begins by explaining that while he originally planned to preach on Ephesians 3:20-21, a favorite verse of his, he was led to expand his message to include Ephesians 4:1-7. He re-emphasized Ephesians 3:20-21, encouraging the congregation to not just read the verse, but to truly believe that God can do “immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine” and to have high expectations of God’s power, even in difficult circumstances.

Jones then moved on to Ephesians 4:1, highlighting the word “then.” He explains that this word connects the first three chapters of Ephesians, which describe what God has already done for us, to the last three chapters, which provide instructions for Christian living. He emphasizes that Christian living is not about following a set of rules, but about responding to the grace God has already shown us. He urged the congregation to live a life “worthy of the calling you have received.”

The sermon then focuses on the practical application of living in community, as outlined in Ephesians 4:2, which calls for complete humility, gentleness, and patience. Jones states that God desires to do more through the church, and this requires people to work together despite their imperfections. He defines humility as the displacement of self by the enthronement of God, insisting that all credit for accomplishments must be given to God alone.

Finally, Jones discusses the concept of unity in diversity, referencing the sevenfold mention of “one body” and “one spirit” in Ephesians 4:4-6. He clarifies that this unity does not mean everyone must be the same, but that a spiritual oneness should exist despite individual differences, as each person has been given a unique spiritual gift. He concludes by encouraging the church to embrace their unique roles and believe that through their collective efforts, God will do more than they could ever ask or imagine.

Listen to the full version here.

Trinity Anglican Church

The sermon, delivered by lead pastor Kris McDaniel, is centered around the idea that the Bible “reads us,” telling us about the human condition and God’s instinct to move toward us in our neediness and brokenness. He notes that our culture often encourages hiding our needs and appearing to have it all together, but the Bible teaches the opposite. McDaniel encourages the congregation to identify with the most needy person in a biblical passage rather than the strong one, because God’s response to human neediness is a core part of His kingdom.

The sermon focuses on the story of a woman who was crippled for 18 years, found in Luke 13. McDaniel points out that this woman was “badly bent” and had likely become a part of the community’s “furniture,” known only by her brokenness. He draws a parallel between her literal bentness and the figurative “bent” places in the lives of the listeners—disappointments, hurts, and inner struggles. He invites the congregation to reflect on where they feel stuck and to move toward hope, just as the woman in the story moved toward Jesus despite her pain.

McDaniel then highlights four key takeaways from the story. First, he emphasizes that the woman’s pain did not stop her from hoping for movement toward Jesus. Second, he notes that Jesus “sees her” even when she might have felt invisible, and he calls her to come closer. This demonstrates that God sees us in our darkest places, even when we cannot see Him. Third, Jesus touches the very place that hurts the most, showing that God is not aloof from our pain and wants to be invited into those vulnerable places.

Finally, the speaker concludes by encouraging the congregation to engage and live responsibly by offering thanks and praise to God, which cultivates an awareness of God’s work. He challenges them to reflect on where they have hurt that needs Jesus’s healing touch and to consider how they can courageously and appropriately be vulnerable with God and others to find healing.

Listen to the full version here.

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