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 for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the concept of “counterfeit happiness.” He begins with the stories of famous con artist Frank Abagnale and the “fool’s gold” of the California Gold Rush to illustrate how easily we can be deceived into trading what is truly valuable for something fake. Fr. Mike argues that every one of us often chases after counterfeit happiness, spending our lives pursuing things that look like they will fulfill us but ultimately leave us empty.
Fr. Mike identifies four primary counterfeits of happiness that have been recognized since ancient times: wealth, power, pleasure, and fame. He explains that the danger of these counterfeits is that they actually “work” for a short time—they provide a temporary sense of satisfaction that is just enough to convince us to sacrifice everything for them. However, he notes that wealth cannot insulate us from tragedy, power often turns us into slaves of our own ambition, pleasure numbs us to real joy, and fame is a hollow substitute for being truly known and loved.
To counter these lies, Fr. Mike points to the Beatitudes as Jesus’ way of exposing the counterfeits and tearing down idols. He explains that when Jesus says “Blessed are the poor in spirit” or “Blessed are those who mourn,” He is revealing that true happiness is found in a state of dependence on God and an awareness of our need for Him. By embracing humility, mercy, and purity of heart, we move away from the “inordinate preoccupation” with ourselves and toward a life that is awake to the reality of God’s grace.
In his concluding thoughts, Fr. Mike suggests that the Beatitudes are not just a “plan” or a set of rules, but a portrait of Jesus himself. He compares the spiritual life to the training of Secret Service agents, who learn to spot counterfeit currency not by studying fakes, but by becoming intimately familiar with the real thing. He invites the audience to study the Gospels to know the “genuine article”—Jesus Christ—so that they can recognize the beauty of holiness and avoid giving their lives away for counterfeit happiness.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
In this concluding sermon of the series “Who Needs Church,” Joel Thomas explores the intersection of identity and purpose, arguing that the local church is the primary vehicle for discovering life’s ultimate meaning. He begins by addressing the existential questions of “Why,” “What,” and “Who,” noting that humans have an innate desire to believe their lives possess inherent value. Drawing from Genesis, Thomas explains that mankind is created in the image of a triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), reflecting this divine pattern through our own trifold nature of mind, body, and soul.
Thomas tackles the tension of Jesus’ command in the Sermon on the Mount to “be perfect,” clarifying that the Greek word teleios does not mean “flawless” but rather “complete,” “mature,” or “finished.” He uses the analogy of a fully ripened peach or a graduating student to illustrate that God’s goal isn’t to create error-free people, but to bring us to a state of wholeness where we are ready to fulfill our unique assignments. He suggests that the church provides the community and relationships necessary for this maturation process, helping individuals integrate their past, personality, and passions into a cohesive purpose.
Sharing a deeply personal story about losing his father at age 17, Thomas discusses the concept of “stewardship of pain.” He describes how he initially resented being told that God could use his loss for good, but later found profound meaning when he was able to mentor a high school student named Thomas who had just suffered the same tragedy. This experience taught him that God “wastes nothing” and can transform even our most painful chapters into a unique platform to help others. He emphasizes that finding purpose often comes when we realize we were “made for this moment” to serve someone else in a way only we can.
The sermon concludes with an invitation for the congregation to view themselves as God’s “masterpieces” and to step into the plans God prepared for them long ago. Thomas encourages the audience to stop being ruled by their past mistakes and instead allow God to weave their “broken pieces” into a beautiful tapestry. By “going first” and sharing our own stories of redemption, we give others the “gift of going second,” creating a community of transparency and healing. He closes by asserting that everyone—whether looking for help, answers, or purpose—needs the church to help them carry out God’s redemptive work in the world.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
Monsignor Frank McNamee reflects on the Beatitudes, emphasizing that they are not just a collection of abstract virtues or information about God, but an invitation to participate in His divine life. He explains that the Beatitudes describe God’s own way of being in the world: His poverty of spirit, His meekness expressed through love, and His hunger for righteousness. By proclaiming these words, Jesus reveals the character of the Father and invites His disciples to mirror that same divine presence in their own lives.
Monsignor McNamee focuses on the concept of “poverty of spirit,” clarifying that it is not solely about material lack but about recognizing our fundamental dependency on God. He draws a parallel to the life of the Trinity, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in a state of perfect self-giving love and reception. To be poor in spirit is to refuse the illusion of self-sufficiency and instead trust in God’s providence, which frees us from anxiety and allows us to live with greater generosity and openness.
The homily also addresses the cost of living out this blessedness, noting that Jesus ends the Beatitudes by speaking of persecution. Monsignor McNamee explains that choosing to live like God in a world that often resists Him will inevitably bring opposition. However, he notes that this path leads to a joy that is not a denial of pain but a deep confidence in God’s faithfulness. Even when disciples fail or abandon Christ, they are offered the chance to be forgiven, restored, and sent forth again, grounding their identity in a relationship with God rather than worldly success.
Ultimately, the Beatitudes are presented as a “grace-filled invitation” rather than an impossible ideal. Monsignor McNamee encourages the congregation to see themselves as reflections of God’s presence on earth, whose attitudes and behaviors are shaped by divine love. He concludes by reminding the faithful that through their imperfect but sincere efforts to live out these values, the world might catch a glimpse of God’s face. He urges them to look to God as their source of strength, participating in the building of His kingdom here on earth.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
Louie Giglio uses the transition of the Israelites from the desert to the Promised Land in Deuteronomy and Joshua as a metaphor for a new season at Passion City Church. He highlights the “paradox of possession,” where God tells the people He has already given them the land, yet they must still go in and take possession of it. Giglio argues that while we are saved by grace alone, that grace is meant to activate us into action, challenging the congregation to move beyond a passive faith and actively claim the spiritual territory God has provided.
Giglio addresses the “squatters” that occupy our lives—lies, habits, and family patterns that take up residence in our minds and spirits. He emphasizes that while the Promised Land is a place of abundance and “milk and honey,” it is also a place filled with enemies like the Hittites and Jebusites. These challenges are not meant to discourage us but to keep us closely tethered to God, the source of our victory. He encourages believers to serve “eviction notices” to anything in their lives that does not honor Jesus, from secret sins to negative self-talk.
The sermon shifts from a collective church milestone to an individual call to action, urging listeners to move out of the “desert of laps” and into a “settled” life of planting and harvesting. Giglio uses the analogy of “room service” ending, suggesting that while initial spiritual provision (mana) is a gift, mature faith requires the work of tilling the ground and nurturing the seeds God has planted. He stresses that true worship begins with sight—seeing God’s vision for our lives clearly—and then having the courage to step over our own personal “Jordans.”
Concluding with the legacy of Joshua, who defeated 31 kings, Giglio reminds the audience that the Christian life is a series of battles, not a one-time fight. He points out that the very building they are sitting in is the result of many “kings” being brought down through vision and faith. He invites everyone to make the day a personal turning point, where they stop being bystanders and start taking possession of their inheritance as children of God, ensuring that their legacy is defined by the moment they choose to move.
Listen to the full version here.
Trinity Anglican Church
In this sermon delivered during a confirmation service, Bishop Todd Hunter explores the nature of the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity, shifting the focus from abstract doctrine to an experiential relationship. He explains that while many Christians find God the Father and Jesus Christ intuitively grounded, the Holy Spirit often feels less concrete. Hunter clarifies that confirmation is not merely a religious tradition but a moment specifically intended for the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that the mission of the church requires a divine power beyond human effort to be fulfilled.
Drawing parallels between Jesus’ reliance on the Father and the church’s need for the Spirit, Hunter highlights the concept of “relational reliance.” He notes that Jesus instructed his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised gift because they lacked the capacity to carry out God’s kingdom work on their own. This “dunamis” or power, Hunter explains, is not about manipulation or excess, but about receiving the authorization and capacity to do the good we wish to do in the world. He acknowledges the common fear of “weirdness” associated with the Holy Spirit but asserts that the primary fruit of the Spirit is love—willing the good of others—which actually makes one a more beautiful and grounded human being.
Hunter addresses the “cautious openness” or cynicism that some believers may feel toward the Spirit, warning that the Holy Spirit can be as easily grieved by being ignored as by being treated with excess. He argues that being filled with the Spirit is meant to be a daily experiential reality rather than a theological proposition. Using an analogy from Eugene Peterson, he compares a “wooden” performance of a music score to a virtuoso one, explaining that the Spirit helps believers move beyond technically accurate religious practice to enter into the “energy and life” of the gospel score.
The sermon concludes with a call to “inhale” the breath of Christ, just as Jesus breathed on his disciples in John 20. Hunter invites the congregation and the confirmands to approach the Holy Spirit with the same posture they bring to the Eucharist—one of active reception and welcome. By saying “yes” to the Spirit’s presence, believers are empowered to act as witnesses and to live out their unique assignments with confidence. The service then transitions into the formal rite of confirmation, where Hunter lays hands on several individuals, praying for them to daily increase in the Holy Spirit as they begin this new chapter of their faith journey.
Listen to the full version here.
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