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 Schmitz starts his homily by addressing the questions posed by people about giving. He talks about how we are all children of God, and because of that, we naturally want to give to God and receive from God.

Fr. Mike then challenges the audience to consider giving God their time, talent, and treasure. He encourages us to reflect on how we can spend more time with God each day and to use our talents to serve God and others. He also asks us to consider how we can be more generous with our finances.

Finally, Fr. Mike reminds us that everything we give to God comes back to us multiplied. He encourages us to be cheerful givers and to give generously out of the abundance of our hearts.

Listen to the full version here.

Buckhead Church

Games We Play

April Summer’s sermon focuses on the detrimental effects of avoiding conflict in relationships and the importance of confronting issues with love and grace. She begins by sharing personal anecdotes about her dislike for games and sports, which she uses as a metaphor for avoiding difficult conversations. She introduces the concept of the “avoidance game,” where individuals prioritize avoiding conflict over addressing issues head-on.

Summer delves deeper into the consequences of this avoidance, highlighting the potential for broken relationships and lost opportunities for intimacy and trust. She contrasts the avoidance game with the concept of confrontation, emphasizing that it is not about winning or inflicting pain but about creating a space for honesty, understanding, and reconciliation. To illustrate her point, she uses biblical examples of Jesus’ interactions with Judas and Peter, showcasing how He approached conflict with love, grace, and a focus on restoration.

The sermon encourages listeners to prioritize relationships and to step away from the avoidance game. Summer emphasizes the importance of prayerful, graceful, and loving confrontation as a means to rebuild broken connections. She concludes by inviting the congregation to identify areas in their own lives where they might be playing the avoidance game and to take steps toward reconciliation.

Finally, Summer underscores the significance of relationships in the Christian faith, referencing God’s pursuit of humanity through Jesus Christ as the ultimate example of loving confrontation and restoration. She challenges listeners to emulate God’s love by prioritizing relationships and engaging in honest and open communication.

Listen to the full version here.

Passion City Church

Louie Giglio from Passion City Church discusses the church’s growth and the importance of generosity.

Giglio starts the sermon by highlighting Passion City Church’s significant growth in attendance, baptisms, and other metrics. He acknowledges that some might be skeptical about focusing on numbers, but argues that the Bible uses numbers to represent God’s work in the world.

Generosity is another topic covered by Giglio. He defines generosity as giving more than tithing, which is the practice of donating 10% of one’s income to the church. He urges the congregation to test God’s faithfulness by giving generously and trusting that they will be blessed in return.

Giglio concludes the sermon with a personal story about his and his wife’s financial struggles early in their marriage. He emphasizes that they were able to trust God and experience his provision despite their challenges. He encourages the congregation to have faith that God will provide for them as they generously support the church.

Listen to the full version here.

Trinity Anglican Church

In his sermon, Kris McDaniel delves into John 6, where Jesus walks on water, one of the seven significant signs in the gospel. He begins by reflecting on the impact of these signs, suggesting that they reveal profound truths about Jesus’ character and the nature of human vulnerability. By examining this fifth sign, McDaniel emphasizes how it can help us understand Jesus’ heart and our own human experiences.

McDaniel explains that this passage follows the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, drawing a connection between the disciples’ experiences of abundance and their subsequent struggle on the sea. He points out that the disciples, after witnessing a great miracle, are now facing a terrifying storm in the dark without Jesus physically present. This scenario represents times in our lives when we feel distant from God and are overwhelmed by challenges.

The sermon highlights how the disciples, despite their knowledge of the Sea of Galilee, find themselves struggling in the storm. McDaniel likens this to being in the “middle” of life, where one is too far to turn back but still far from their goal. He discusses the common human experience of feeling stuck and tired, losing sight of the bigger picture, and being consumed by immediate struggles.

McDaniel then focuses on Jesus’ approach to the disciples during their crisis. He underscores that Jesus comes to them in the midst of their fear and confusion, standing on the very waters that threaten them. This act symbolizes Jesus’ authority over the chaos in our lives. The disciples initially fail to recognize Jesus, mistaking him for a ghost, which McDaniel relates to our own difficulties in perceiving God’s presence during tough times.

Listen to the full version here.

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