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
- Want to add your church? Request that here
Fr. Mike Schmitz
Fr. Mike Schmitz’s homily focuses on the theme of humility, defining it not as pretending to be less than you are, but as being honest about what you are. He begins by sharing a personal story about a social media post where a dad called his son “the best kid ever.” This leads him to a cynical but truthful realization that such hyperbole, while sweet, is not literally true. He connects this to the idea of “World’s Best Dad” t-shirts and his own experience with a “World’s Best Boss” mug, highlighting that a limited scope of comparison often leads to these statements. He emphasizes that acknowledging this truth is not a sad thing, but rather the first step towards freedom and joy.
He elaborates on humility as the freedom from the burden of “impression management,” which is the energy people spend on trying to appear perfect to others. To illustrate this, he uses the examples of a barbecue pitmaster and a professional darts player, showing how people can be great at something without that skill defining their entire worth. He clarifies that true humility is recognizing your skills for what they are—just skills—and not allowing them to inflate your ego or make you feel superior to others. This honest self-assessment, he says, is a liberating experience.
Father Mike further illustrates the concept of humility by sharing a story about his sister, Beth, who works in wardrobe for musicians. She was unimpressed by celebrities and once worked with Ricky Martin, who appreciated her treating him like a normal person. When he told her he loved that she treated him as if he were nothing special, she responded, “Well, you aren’t… you sing and you dance.” This story reinforces the idea that humility isn’t about feigning incompetence but about not letting your accomplishments define your identity. He concludes that being honest about both strengths and weaknesses is a beautiful and freeing aspect of humility.
In his conclusion, he explains that a humble person can laugh at their own weaknesses because they are not threatened by them. This is not about making light of sin but about recognizing one’s desperate need for Jesus. He cites St. Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians, where he boasts in his weakness so that the power of Christ may dwell in him. The truly humble can rejoice in their imperfections because it allows them to look to God and say, “I’m glad you know me.” He contrasts the blood of Abel, which cries out for justice, with the blood of Christ, which cries out for mercy. The homily ends with the powerful message that God chose and loved us not because we are the “best,” but because we are His.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
In his sermon on Labor Day weekend, Andy Stanley begins by welcoming both regular attendees and newcomers to Buckhead Church, acknowledging that every weekend is someone’s first time. He provides a simple way for new people to connect with the church, emphasizing the importance of making everyone feel welcome.
The sermon is the conclusion of a series which focuses on three things that can lead to regret if missed: Jesus, family, and being great. Stanley explains that while most missed opportunities in life are minor, some are highly significant, particularly in crucial seasons of life. He points out that people often look back with regret, realizing that a small effort could have made a big difference in areas like health, family, or work.
Stanley’s central message is that everyone has the daily opportunity to be great. He clarifies that “great” is not the same as “famous,” as not everyone can be famous, but everyone can be great. He challenges his audience to consistently ask themselves, “What would great do?” in every situation and interaction. For followers of Jesus, he defines greatness as being a servant to all, which is a reversal of the world’s typical pursuit of being first.
He concludes by stating that greatness requires only an opportunity, not a title or a prop. Stanley encourages the congregation to seize these opportunities, warning that choosing selfishness over greatness leads to regret. He invites the audience to attend the following week’s service and bring unchurched friends, presenting this as a way to collectively demonstrate greatness by serving their community.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
Father Jared Kleinwaechter begins his homily by likening the virtue of humility to the “just right” spot in the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a middle ground between the extremes of too much and too little self-confidence. He quotes C.S. Lewis, who said that humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. This establishes the homily’s central theme of true humility as a balanced and honest self-awareness.
He then delves into the parable from the Gospel of Luke about taking the lowest seat at a banquet. He cautions that this is not a mere trick to get a better seat, but a lesson on genuine humility of the heart, which involves recognizing one’s dependence on God and acknowledging one’s sinfulness. He quotes G.K. Chesterton, stating that the doctrine of original sin is the only one that can be proven just by looking at the world, which is why we begin Mass with a confession of our sins.
The homily continues with the second part of the Gospel, where Jesus instructs the host to invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind—those who cannot repay him. Father Kleinwaechter highlights that this is another example of true humility, which gives without expecting anything in return. He contrasts this with the other extreme of “too little” humility, which can manifest as a false sense of unworthiness, leading people to believe they are too sinful to even be in church.
He concludes by connecting the homily to the Letter to the Hebrews. He explains that while the Israelites at Mount Sinai were afraid to approach God due to their sin, we, under the new covenant, are raised out of our sins by Jesus Christ. Therefore, true humility is about acknowledging our reality as sinners in need of redemption, but it is not about being a hopeless case. Instead, it is a confidence not in ourselves, but in a loving Savior who is stronger than death itself.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
In his sermon titled “Living From Rest In Jesus,” Pastor Dan Watson shares a personal story about a family vacation that ended up being more exhausting than restful. He uses this experience to highlight how people often view rest as a temporary break, a pause when life lets up. However, he explains that the Bible, specifically in Hebrews 4:9-11, describes rest not as a momentary break, but as a lifestyle—a way of living that flows from the finished work of Jesus.
Watson provides three key points on how to live a lifestyle of rest. First, rest is not achieved; it is received. He emphasizes that we don’t earn rest by finishing our to-do lists or meeting expectations. Instead, it is a gift given to us freely because of what Jesus has already accomplished on the cross. He challenges the audience to consider where in their lives they are striving for approval to earn rest, whether it’s at work, in ministry, or at home.
Second, rest is a lifestyle of trust. Watson references Exodus chapter 16, where the Israelites struggled to trust God’s provision and hoarded manna instead of resting on the seventh day. He explains that not resting is a way of saying, “If I don’t hold everything together, it will fall apart.” He encourages followers of Christ to trust that God is in control and working, even when they are not, which brings a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Finally, Watson states that rest redefines our work. While rest doesn’t equate to laziness, as Jesus himself had a full schedule, living from a place of rest means working differently. He explains that instead of working for approval, we work from it. We move from working anxiously to working peacefully and fruitfully. He concludes by stating that rest is not found in a destination or a place but in the person of Jesus, and urges listeners to stop carrying what Jesus has already carried and instead, rest in him.
Listen to the full version here.
Trinity Anglican Church
In his sermon, Kris McDaniel begins by promoting the church’s Alpha course, a program he has a strong personal connection to, having led it in various settings, including prisons in England. He argues that people outside the church often have less of an issue with Jesus and more of a problem with the behavior of Christians. He believes Alpha offers a welcoming, non-judgmental space where people can talk about their beliefs and build relationships, and he encourages the congregation to invite their non-Christian friends to participate. He also touches on the church’s ongoing renovations, humorously noting that progress often comes after a mess, a metaphor for the church’s current state.
The core of the sermon is an exposition of the Gospel of Luke, specifically the parable about taking the lowest seat at a banquet. McDaniel clarifies that this isn’t just a piece of practical advice on social etiquette, but a powerful story about human behavior. He identifies three key harmful practices that Jesus’s parable addresses. The first is “posturing,” or living competitively. He warns against constantly striving for status and significance, which he argues is an unhealthy and anxious way to live. He draws a parallel to the dangers of social media, where people curate an image of themselves that is often only a partial truth, leading to harmful comparison and anxiety. He stresses that true humility is having a right-sized view of oneself—neither too big nor too small—and that we should reject posturing in all its forms.
The second harmful practice McDaniel identifies is “transactional relating.” He explains that Jesus isn’t telling us to never invite our friends to dinner but is cautioning against living in a way where we only give a little to get a little in return. This transactional mindset, he says, makes us feel owed something by others and prevents us from seeing people as fully human. He encourages the congregation to break this cycle by being more human and open to people, suggesting simple acts like making eye contact and learning the names of service workers. He says that the way to detox from this behavior is to engage with people who can’t offer you anything in return, such as through community service.
Finally, McDaniel concludes by urging the congregation to be the kind of people who invite others into a relationship with God. He states that the remedy for the harm caused by posturing and transactional relationships is to become a welcoming presence to everyone. He encourages his listeners to start with small actions, like making eye contact with people and learning their names. He asserts that people are not turned off by Jesus, but by the way Christians can sometimes act. He concludes by asking the congregation to reflect on where they can extend welcome to others and where their own hearts long to be welcomed, reminding them that they are harmed by these behaviors as well as harming others.
Listen to the full version here.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on our site are written by our local community of contributors as a reflection of their personal experiences. All information is researched and provided in good faith, however, it does not necessarily represent the views of the organization they’re writing about nor that of the City on Purpose staff, and/or any/all contributors of this site. If there are issues with the accuracy of this piece, we want to fix them. Please contact City on Purpose to submit a request for an update. We strive to be an honest resource for all those in the city – thanks for helping us make that possible! You can also review our full Disclaimer, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Policy.