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

Fr. Mike’s homily on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord focuses on the concept of vocation and how to discern God’s purpose for our lives. He emphasizes that our ultimate purpose is to become saints, not to achieve specific goals or accomplishments. He discusses the three senses of call: the universal call to holiness, the call to a particular state in life (marriage, priesthood, etc.), and the call to daily tasks. 

Fr. Mike encourages listeners to trust that God knows them better than they know themselves and to focus on doing what they know they should be doing in the present moment. He suggests asking three questions to help discern God’s will: 1) Am I in a state of grace? 2) Am I doing my daily duties? 3) Am I praying regularly? By living in accordance with these questions, Fr. Mike believes we can live out our vocations and become the saints God created us to be.

In addition to the above, Fr. Mike also speaks about the importance of community and the role of others in helping us to discern our vocations. He emphasizes that we need to surround ourselves with people who will support and encourage us on our journey. He also stresses the importance of prayer and contemplation, as these are the ways in which we can hear God’s voice and receive guidance.

Overall, Fr. Mike’s homily is a powerful message about the importance of living out our vocations and following God’s will. He offers practical advice and encouragement to help us on our journey, and he reminds us that we are not alone in this endeavor.

Listen to the full version here.

Buckhead Church

The Last Kingdom

Joel Thomas’s sermon explores the concept of Jesus as King, challenging the common perception of Him solely as Savior. He argues that while acknowledging Jesus as Savior is important, it’s an incomplete picture. Many, he suggests, reduce Jesus to a “fire insurance” policy, focusing on personal salvation and neglecting His role as the ruling authority in their lives. Thomas emphasizes that Jesus is primarily identified as King in the New Testament, a title often overlooked. He points out that Jesus began his ministry declaring, “The Kingdom of God has come near,” introducing a new era of God’s reign.

Thomas explains that Jesus’s message centered around this kingdom, calling people to “repent,” which he clarifies as a change of mind and allegiance after thoughtful consideration of who Jesus is and the nature of His kingdom. This repentance, Thomas argues, involves shifting our allegiance from worldly concerns and anxieties to God’s kingdom. He illustrates this with Jesus’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where He encourages followers not to worry about basic needs, but to prioritize seeking first the Kingdom of God, trusting that those needs will be met.

The core of Thomas’s message centers on the nature of this kingdom, which he describes as an “upside-down kingdom” with values that often contradict worldly priorities. He highlights Jesus’s example of servant leadership, emphasizing that true kingship is about serving others, not being served. He connects this to Jesus’s sacrifice, giving His life as a ransom. Thomas then challenges the congregation, asking if their lives reflect this kingdom’s values. He questions whether an outside observer would see evidence of their allegiance to King Jesus, pointing out the common disconnect between confessing Jesus as King and actually surrendering to His will.

Thomas delves into the root of this disconnect, suggesting it stems from a fundamental distrust in God. He argues that the desire to be in control of one’s own life, to be the “king of my own kingdom,” is the underlying reason for disobedience and defiance. He connects this to the story of Adam and Eve, who chose to trust their own judgment over God’s instructions. He concludes by explaining that true surrender to God involves recognizing Him as the ultimate authority, the “cosmic Father,” and aligning our will with His. He uses a personal anecdote about an encounter with a wise man to illustrate the importance of recognizing and submitting to true authority, even when it challenges our own perceptions.

Listen to the full version here.

Cathedral of Christ The King

Deacon Sam begins by reflecting on the richness of language, noting the distinction between chronos and kairos – measured time versus time in its fullness, the opportune moment. He connects this to the day’s readings, emphasizing the Feast of the Presentation, a celebration 40 days after Christmas. He highlights the dual presentations: Mary’s purification, fulfilling the law after childbirth, and the presentation of Jesus, the firstborn son, redeemed back from God. These acts, though rooted in tradition, foreshadow something much greater.

He then draws our attention to Simeon and Anna, two figures who immediately recognize Jesus for who he is. Simeon’s words, waiting for the “consolation of Israel,” echo the prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi. These prophecies speak of God’s return to His temple. Deacon Sam reminds us of the history: Solomon’s temple, the dwelling place of God’s glory, destroyed and rebuilt, yet God’s presence had not fully returned. The people yearned for this return, for God’s presence among them.

And in the presentation of Jesus, that yearning is fulfilled. God returns to His temple, not in a building of stone, but in human form. Jesus, the light of the world, comes to His people. Deacon Sam connects this to the tradition of Candlemas, the blessing of candles, symbolizing the light of Christ. Just as candles illuminate the darkness, so too does Christ illuminate the world. This light is not confined to the past; it’s present today.

Through baptism, each of us receives a candle, a symbol of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. And in the Eucharist, we receive Christ himself, becoming temples of the living God. We, in turn, become the light of the world, strengthened by the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit, and prayer. Deacon Sam concludes by emphasizing that God has indeed returned, in the fullness of time, and our duty, our privilege, and indeed our salvation, lies in reflecting that light brightly to the world.

Listen to the full version here.

Passion City Church

The One Thing

Grant Partrick’s sermon centers on the vital role of hope in our lives. He establishes hope as more than just wishful thinking, but a firm belief that circumstances can improve, even amidst hardship. He describes hope as a feeling of optimism and confidence, a positive expectation for the future. Partrick emphasizes that hope is essential for navigating life’s challenges, providing the strength and motivation to persevere when faced with adversity. He suggests that without hope, we are more susceptible to despair and discouragement, hindering our ability to move forward.

He then explores the diverse facets of hope, moving beyond a general concept to specific examples. He touches upon the hope of salvation, the anticipation of eternal life and reunion with God. He also speaks of the hope for success, the drive to achieve goals and aspirations, whether personal or professional. And he emphasizes the hope for love, the desire for meaningful connections with others, including family, friends, and romantic partners. Partrick suggests that these different types of hope are interconnected, each contributing to an overall sense of well-being and purpose.

A key point in Partrick’s message is the importance of grounding our hope in a solid foundation. He implies that this foundation is rooted in faith and trust in God. He suggests that by placing our hope in something greater than ourselves, we can find the resilience to withstand life’s storms. This divine connection provides a sense of security and assurance, enabling us to face uncertainty with greater courage and peace. He underscores the idea that hope is not merely a human construct, but a gift from God, a divine spark within us that empowers us to overcome obstacles.

Partrick concludes his sermon with a powerful call to action, urging listeners to actively cultivate and nurture hope in their lives. He encourages them to resist succumbing to negativity and despair, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable difficulties. He reiterates that hope is a gift, a precious resource that should be cherished and utilized to enrich our lives. He leaves his audience with a message of encouragement, reminding them that even in the darkest of times, hope remains a constant source of strength and a pathway to a brighter future.

Listen to the full version here.

Trinity Anglican Church

Kris McDaniel’s sermon focuses on Luke 4:20-30, where Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth and reads from Isaiah, proclaiming his mission. McDaniel emphasizes the familiarity the people of Nazareth had with Jesus, having known him since childhood. He contrasts this superficial knowledge with truly seeing Jesus and his message. He suggests that familiarity can breed contempt, not necessarily hatred, but a dismissal of Jesus as someone they’ve already figured out, preventing them from truly hearing his radical message. He connects this to our own lives, where cynicism and limited expectations can mute what God might be able to do.

McDaniel argues that Jesus’s presence in Nazareth was meant to break the people out of their “calcified container” of limited possibilities. He challenges the congregation to consider if they’ve become too comfortable with a diminished reality, questioning where they’ve adapted to things that are not okay. He asks if they are open to the possibility of more from God – more healing, comfort, or provision. He clarifies that this isn’t a promise of a magical fix, but perhaps peace and resilience in the midst of hardship. He emphasizes Jesus’s stated mission from Isaiah: to bring good news to the poor, freedom to prisoners, sight to the blind, and liberation to the oppressed.

The sermon then explores the people’s reaction to Jesus’s message. They are offended, not only by his miracles performed elsewhere, but also by his implication that God’s favor extends to outsiders, even pagans. McDaniel explains that Jesus is challenging their insider mentality, their belief that they deserve special treatment because of their heritage. He connects this to the Beatitudes, where Jesus blesses the poor in spirit, suggesting that recognizing our own neediness is essential for receiving God’s grace. He also points out that Jesus himself grew up in humble circumstances, identifying with the marginalized.

McDaniel concludes by asking the congregation to reflect on two questions: what do you need from Jesus, and what does the world need from Jesus? He urges them to be specific and courageous in their answers, considering both personal needs and the needs of the wider community. He suggests that Jesus disrupts our comfortable assumptions and challenges us to be real and honest about our brokenness, recognizing that it is precisely in our need that we become candidates for God’s affection. He connects this to the honesty and rawness he observed at an AA meeting, suggesting that the church could benefit from a similar level of vulnerability.

Listen to the full version here.

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