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
• Want to add your church? Request that here

Fr. Mike Schmitz

In this homily, titled “Put Your Heart Into It,” Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the difference between merely performing a task and truly engaging with one’s heart. He begins with a personal anecdote about his early days as a camp counselor, where he realized that despite doing everything required of him, he was bad at the job because he was simply pacing himself to avoid burnout. He contrasts this with a colleague who showed up differently, transforming the same tasks into life-changing experiences simply by deciding to put his heart into the work.

Fr. Mike connects this lesson to Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where Christ explains that He came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Fulfilling the law, Fr. Mike argues, means moving beyond checking the box of external obedience—such as not committing murder or adultery—and addressing the internal state of the heart, such as rooting out anger and lust. He emphasizes that Jesus isn’t trying to give us a new weight to carry, but rather a new way to carry the weight by transforming our internal disposition.

The homily identifies three common ways people fail to put their heart into their lives: doing the bare minimum (or quiet quitting), showing resistance and resentment toward their circumstances, and merely enduring tasks with a sense of sadness or compulsion. Fr. Mike challenges the audience to view every moment and struggle as something coming directly from the permissive will of God. He suggests that true freedom is found in saying yes to God in every moment, recognizing that God trusts us with the specific burdens we carry.

Finally, Fr. Mike concludes by citing St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, reminding the faithful that even the most impressive deeds—speaking in tongues or moving mountains—are nothing without love. He encourages everyone to approach their upcoming week not just by completing their list of tasks, but by doing them as if love is the ultimate point. By shifting the focus from the load to the way it is carried, one can move from being a professional box checker to living a life of joyful surrender.

Listen to the full version here.

Buckhead Church

In this sermon titled “Where’s God In The Midst Of My Circumstances?”, Matt Noblitt, lead pastor at Buckhead Church, addresses the common misconception that our circumstances reveal God’s heart toward us. He begins with a poignant story about his four-year-old daughter feeling “not beautiful” after a fall, illustrating how pain and tragedy can lead us to doubt God’s love or even walk away from faith. Noblitt emphasizes that while we often look at life’s difficulties as indicators of how God feels about us, our circumstances are not the true evidence of His heart.

Turning to the Gospel of John, Noblitt explores the story of Lazarus to show how Jesus intentionally allowed a situation of delay and death to unfold for a greater purpose. He highlights that even though Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, He stayed where He was for two days after hearing Lazarus was sick. This delay caused deep grief and confusion for the sisters, who both told Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Noblitt points out that we all face moments where it feels like God has delayed, denied, or is distant, and we must grapple with whether He is still trustworthy in those gaps.

The sermon’s turning point focuses on the shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus wept,” which Noblitt presents as the ultimate proof that Jesus sees, understands, and cares about our pain. He argues that Jesus didn’t just come to fix problems on our timeline but to reveal the Father’s heart. By raising Lazarus, Jesus demonstrated His authority over death and signaled that our current struggles do not get to punctuate our final story. Noblitt asserts that the true evidence of God’s heart is found in Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, not in the shifting sands of our daily experiences.

Concluding the message, Noblitt encourages the congregation to find hope even when hurt persists, reminding them that through Jesus, “hurt and hope can coexist.” He invites those feeling abandoned or overwhelmed to sit in the knowledge that God is with them, much like a father comforting a child. The service ends with a call to faith, where several individuals commit their lives to Christ, recognizing that while their circumstances may not change overnight, their eternal reality and the power living within them through the Holy Spirit certainly have.

Listen to the full version here.

Cathedral of Christ The King

Father Gerardo Ceballos focuses on the divine purpose behind God’s commandments, framing them not as restrictions on human freedom but as essential guides for our well-being and salvation. Drawing from the readings of Sirach and the Gospel of Matthew, he explains that God gave these instructions because, as humans, we often lack the wisdom to figure out the right path on our own. He argues that just as any device comes with instructions to ensure it functions correctly, the commandments serve as a manual for human life, ensuring we stay on track toward our ultimate purpose.

Father Ceballos uses a unique and humorous analogy, comparing the commandments to a “diet” for the soul. He recounts a trip to Italy with his siblings, where his sister refused to eat local food because she was preoccupied with dietary restrictions, only to realize too late that she had missed out on the joy of the experience. He explains that just as a doctor restricts certain foods for a patient’s health, God provides commandments to keep us spiritually healthy. The “diet” of the commandments isn’t meant to limit our joy, but to protect us from the “vanity” of immediate pleasures that lead to long-term guilt, remorse, and spiritual sickness.

The homily further emphasizes that God, as the giver of freedom, would never act to restrict it, as that would be a contradiction of His nature. Instead, the commandments guarantee our freedom by preventing us from becoming slaves to destructive behaviors. Father Ceballos challenges the congregation to be as intentional about following God’s law as they are about modern dietary trends, such as a gluten-free diet. He notes that while dietary habits help us in this world, the commandments prepare us for life eternal, which is where our true investment should lie.

Concluding with a powerful quote from the Book of Sirach, Father Ceballos reminds the faithful that God has set “fire and water” before them, granting them the ultimate freedom to choose between life and death. He encourages the parish family to choose the path of greatness over comfort, asserting that humans were not created for mediocrity but for a transcendent purpose. By following these divine guidelines, we move beyond our immediate senses and align ourselves with the “hidden wisdom” of God, which leads to a life of true charity and peace.

Listen to the full version here.

Passion City Church

Louie Giglio explores the book of Joshua, focusing on the historical and spiritual significance of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River. He emphasizes that Joshua is not just a collection of devotional ideas but a record of a real God working in real time to bring His people into their promised land. Giglio challenges the congregation to move beyond a mere “profession of faith” to a true “possession of faith,” urging those who have been “making laps” in a wilderness of fear, sin, or meaninglessness to finally step into the abundance God has promised them.

Giglio draws several key observations from Joshua chapter 3, starting with the significance of the “third day” mentioned in the text. He links this to the resurrection of Jesus, reminding believers that the victory has already been won by Christ, even before they face their own obstacles. He notes that while the people didn’t need to know the exact path, they needed to follow the “way maker” by keeping their eyes on the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God’s holiness and glory. This call to follow God’s lead involves a “consecration” of the heart—a decision to be ready today for what God will do tomorrow.

A central theme of the message is the requirement of active participation in God’s miracles. Giglio points out that the waters of the Jordan only stopped flowing once the priests physically stepped into the river’s edge during its flood stage. This serves as a metaphor for faith: God often waits for us to take the first step toward His promises before He clears the way. He further reflects on how God’s provision in the past, like the parting of the Red Sea, is echoed in the parting of the Jordan, illustrating a consistent pattern of divine rescue that culminates in the work of the Holy Spirit.

In the final portion of the sermon, Giglio shares a personal story about the founding of Passion City Church 17 years ago, reflecting on how he and his wife, Shelley, had to overcome their own “wilderness” moments and doubts. He stresses that while God gives us the land, we ultimately belong to Him as “captives in Christ’s triumphal procession.” The summary of a life of faith, he concludes, is found in a simple commitment to do whatever God commands and go wherever He leads. By trusting in the faithfulness of the one who calls, believers can move from wandering to possessing their divine inheritance.

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.