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, Fr. Mike Schmitz draws a parallel between the glass bridge challenge in the Netflix series “Squid Game” and the challenges we face in discerning God’s will for our lives. He explains that just as the contestants in the show were paralyzed by fear of making the wrong choice, we often experience “paralysis by analysis” when trying to discern our vocation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that God knows us better than we know ourselves and loves us more than we love ourselves, and therefore, we don’t have to figure out our next steps alone. He reminds us that all we need is to be available and willing to try, just like Isaiah and Simon Peter in the Bible.
Fr. Mike then provides a framework for making decisions, suggesting that we ask ourselves four questions: 1) Is this a good door? 2) Is this an open door? 3) Is this a wise door? 4) Is this a door I want to walk through? He acknowledges that choosing wrong is part of the process and encourages us to view it as part of “sighting in a rifle” – we learn and adjust as we go. He emphasizes that spending time in prayer and reading the Bible helps us recognize God’s voice and make better decisions.
Fr. Mike shares a story about a priest who prayed about where to buy brackets for a project and was unexpectedly led to Home Depot, where he encountered a lost soul and was able to minister to him. This story illustrates that even when we seek practical solutions, God may have other plans. Fr. Mike concludes by reminding us that we will never know if a particular path is God’s will until we take the step. He encourages us to have no fear, as God will be there to guide us, whether we need to keep going or change direction.
This homily offers a practical and encouraging approach to discerning God’s will. Fr. Mike emphasizes the importance of trust, availability, and willingness to try, while acknowledging the challenges and uncertainties involved in the process. He reminds us that God is always with us, and that even when we make mistakes, we can learn and grow.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
The Last Kingdom
Stanley begins by emphasizing that the Christian fight is not about winning for oneself, but rather about ensuring that no one else loses. He draws a contrast between the kingdoms of men and the kingdom of God, highlighting that the latter’s methods are often counterintuitive and may appear to be losing by worldly standards.
Stanley uses the example of Jesus’s trial before Pilate to illustrate this point. The Jewish leaders demanded Jesus’s execution, but their methods were ultimately unsuccessful in stopping the spread of Christianity. He argues that the early Christians, despite facing persecution and opposition, were able to advance the kingdom of God through love, forgiveness, and selfless service.
Stanley further emphasizes this point by referencing Paul’s letters to Timothy, where he instructs Timothy to fight the “good fight” – a fight not for the faith, but for the faith itself. This involves living out the law of Christ, loving enemies, and prioritizing the well-being of others over personal gain. Stanley acknowledges that this is a challenging and counterintuitive approach, but he argues that it is the most effective way to advance the kingdom of God.
In conclusion, Stanley challenges listeners to consider how they are fighting the “good fight” in their own lives. He encourages them to prioritize love, forgiveness, and selfless service, even when it is difficult or seemingly unproductive. He emphasizes that true victory lies not in worldly success, but in living out the example of Jesus and advancing the kingdom of God through love and compassion.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
Msgr. McNamee goes on to explain that love is not just a feeling, but an action. It is about putting others before ourselves. He gives the example of Jesus, who washed the feet of his disciples, even though he was their master. This act of love showed them that true love is about service.
Msgr. McNamee challenges us to examine our own lives and see if we are truly loving others. He suggests that we ask ourselves if we are willing to put others before ourselves, even when it is inconvenient or difficult.
Msgr. McNamee concludes his homily by saying that if we want to inherit eternal life, we must love God and our neighbor as ourselves. This means not just saying that we love them, but showing it through our actions.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
The One Thing
Brad Jones’s sermon, “Overwhelmed or Overflowing?”, tackles the common struggle of balancing the demands of life with our spiritual needs. He uses the familiar story of Mary and Martha to highlight how easily we become consumed by daily tasks, often at the expense of our relationship with God. Martha, busy with preparations, represents the distractions that pull us away from what truly nourishes our souls, while Mary, seated at Jesus’s feet, embodies the importance of prioritizing time with God. Jones argues that this isn’t just a nice suggestion, but a crucial element for a life filled with hope and purpose.
The core of Jones’s message centers around the idea that choosing to spend time with God is an active decision. He acknowledges the pressures of modern life and doesn’t dismiss the validity of our responsibilities. However, he challenges listeners to examine their priorities and consider whether they’re allowing the urgent to overshadow the truly important. He suggests that feeling overwhelmed is often a symptom of neglecting our spiritual well-being, while an overflowing life stems from a consistent connection with God.
Jones offers practical advice for cultivating this deeper relationship. He encourages listeners to schedule dedicated time for prayer and Bible study, just as they would any other important appointment. Finding a quiet space, free from distractions, is also key. He emphasizes the importance of being present in these moments with God, focusing on connection rather than simply going through the motions. This intentionality, he suggests, is the first step towards shifting from a feeling of being overwhelmed to experiencing an overflowing life.
Ultimately, Jones’s sermon is a call to action. He urges listeners to move beyond simply acknowledging the importance of God and actively cultivate a deeper relationship with Him. This involves making conscious choices to prioritize time with God, even when it requires sacrifice. By doing so, he promises, we can experience the joy, peace, and abundance that comes from living a life centered on Him, a life that overflows with His presence rather than being consumed by the pressures of the world.
Listen to the full version here.
Trinity Anglican Church
Kris McDaniel’s sermon focuses on engaging with the Bible in a way that allows it to read us, not just the other way around. He cautions against treating the Bible like a dissection, emphasizing the importance of courageous engagement while recognizing it reveals our own sin and story. McDaniel encourages reading scripture in two directions: understanding the text itself, and reflecting on how its message applies to our lived experiences. He uses the story of Jesus calling Peter from his boat to illustrate this point.
McDaniel highlights how Jesus, surrounded by crowds, chose Peter’s boat, suggesting intentionality in defining their relationship. He explains how Jesus used the boat as a natural amplifier to preach, then focuses on Jesus entering Peter’s “space”—his area of competency and control. McDaniel argues that Jesus enters our “boats” (our areas of skill and confidence) not just for convenience, but to define our relationship with Him. When Peter welcomes Jesus, Jesus begins directing him, which can be challenging.
The sermon emphasizes that Jesus’s request to Peter to go into deep water symbolizes moving beyond comfort zones into places of uncertainty. McDaniel connects this to Jewish tradition, where “deep water” often represents chaos. He explains that Jesus’s invitation is for Peter to bring his competency into a place of discomfort, acknowledging that while Peter was skilled on the lake, the deeper meaning represented a challenge. This illustrates how, when we invite Jesus into our lives, he transitions from passive passenger to active leader, sometimes placing demands on us.
McDaniel explores Peter’s initial resistance, expressing his doubt and fatigue, yet ultimately consenting. He highlights that surrender doesn’t mean relinquishing skills or gifts, but rather using them under Jesus’s authority. He contrasts this with the common misconception that control is all-or-nothing, emphasizing that Jesus wants to leverage our existing abilities under his direction. The sermon concludes with the abundant catch symbolizing the blessings that follow surrender, and Peter’s fear, representing the ongoing struggle with control. McDaniel encourages self-reflection, asking listeners to consider what’s happening in their “boat” and how they are responding to Jesus’s leadership.
Listen to the full version here.
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