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
- Passion City Church
- Trinity Anglican Church
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Fr. Mike Schmitz
Parabellum
In this homily, Fr. Mike opens up about his dislike for board games and card games, sharing a childhood experience with siblings who played games to obstruct others from winning. He draws a parallel between these games and life, pointing out that opposition and challenges exist in the Christian journey. Fr. Mike introduces the “Parabellum” series, emphasizing the need to prepare for war to achieve peace, referring to the inevitability of facing opposition while following Christ’s path.
He discusses a gospel parable about the coexistence of wheat and weeds, highlighting the presence of evil and challenges within the Church. Fr. Mike acknowledges that evil is not just external, but also within each individual’s heart, urging listeners to cultivate wheat in their lives through conversion and repentance. He emphasizes that preparing for war inside the Church requires addressing wounds and actively fighting against evil, seeking to be part of the solution.
Fr. Mike reflects on the devastating priest scandal, acknowledging that the Church was not adequately prepared for the war against this evil. He believes that the answer to this issue lies in the cultivation of good priests and not the absence of priests. The homily ends with a powerful reminder that it only takes one person to make a difference and that choosing the path of virtue and fighting for goodness can change the course of one’s life and the Church as a whole. The call to prepare for war and choose righteousness resonates throughout the talk, encouraging listeners to be the change they wish to see in the world and the Church.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
Friendology
This sermon by Joel Thomas focuses on the shift in American culture from collectivism to individualism and its impact on people’s lives and society as a whole. Thomas argues that personal ambition has become the primary language and focus of conversation in the country. The culture of “you do you” and “live your best life” has led to an increased emphasis on self-help and personal success.
Thomas uses the biblical story of King David and his affair with Bathsheba to illustrate the dangers of individualism and the lack of collective commitment. He highlights how David’s success blinded him to the consequences of his actions and led him to prioritize his desires over the well-being of others. The sermon emphasizes the importance of healthy, interdependent relationships in contrast to codependent or independent ones.
He contends that true independence is a myth, as life is interconnected and influenced by others. He stresses the need for supportive and interdependent communities where people can share life’s burdens and receive help and challenge from others. Thomas points out that people’s success and struggles are better navigated when they have a network of people to rely on.
The sermon concludes with a call to action, encouraging the audience to take an assessment of their relational health and identify areas of strength and deficiency in their relationships. The message is clear: we are not designed to go through life alone, and fostering healthy, interdependent relationships is crucial for personal growth and societal well-being.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
Above + Beyond
Louie Giglio emphasizes the importance of giving as a response to God’s grace and blessings rather than out of obligation. He encourages the audience to seek revelation and understanding of what God has already done above and beyond for each individual. The sermon draws from the book of Hebrews, particularly focusing on worship and the sacrifice of praise.
Louie starts by illustrating the significance of Jesus going above and beyond for humanity. He compares Jesus’ sacrifice to the old system of sacrifice in the temple, emphasizing that Jesus’ offering was the ultimate sacrifice that took away the disgrace of sin. Jesus suffered outside the city gate, bearing the disgrace and shame of humanity’s sins, and this act became the ultimate display of God’s grace and love.
The sermon goes on to discuss three things the audience needs to break and embrace: breaking ties with a religious system that focuses on self-effort and embracing the garbage heap of God’s glorious grace; breaking ties with guilt and shame and embracing the forgiveness and new identity found in Christ; breaking ties with a low view of oneself and embracing the truth that believers are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms.
Lastly, the sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking the city that is to come—the eternal city—rather than being consumed by the pursuits of this present world. Giglio encourages the audience to invest in the eternal Kingdom and to focus on the city that will never fade away.
Throughout the sermon, Giglio uses vivid imagery to drive home the message, referencing the garbage dump outside the city walls where Jesus bore the disgrace of sin, and how the Shard in London once ruined the view until it became the view. He passionately appeals to the audience to shift their perspectives and embrace the above-and-beyond nature of God’s love and grace.
Listen to the full version here.
Trinity Anglican Church
Pastor Nate Smith’s sermon focuses on a passage from Romans 8:12-25, where he discusses four essential stepping stones for the Christian journey: mortification, adoption, glory, and hope. Mortification refers to the act of self-denial and putting to death sinful instincts, allowing believers to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes the need for the Holy Spirit’s work in this process, as self-effort alone will not be sufficient to overcome the flesh’s destructive tendencies.
Next, Pastor Nate explores the concept of adoption, wherein believers become children of God, granted intimacy with Him as they cry out “ABBA, Father.” This adoption also entitles them to an inheritance as heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, including the future glory that will be revealed in them.
The third stepping stone is glory, representing the ultimate perfection of believers. This future glory is beyond comparison to the present sufferings, and all of creation eagerly awaits this restoration and redemption.
Finally, Pastor Nate emphasizes the importance of hope as an integral part of the Christian walk. Hope in Christ’s return and the eternal inheritance should shape believers’ lives, directing their focus beyond the present challenges and sufferings. With patient endurance, believers await the redemption of their bodies and the transformation of all creation.
Throughout the sermon, He encourages the congregation to embrace the work of the Holy Spirit, recognize their identity as adopted children of God, and maintain hope in the future glory that awaits them. The combination of these four stepping stones empowers Christians to navigate the challenges of life, put to death the works of the flesh, and eagerly await the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Listen to the full version here.
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