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
The homily begins with Father Mike sharing a personal story about his godmother, who, after his ordination, tried to convince him not to be Catholic by questioning the biblical basis of Catholic doctrines. This experience highlighted a common question: “Where’s that in the Bible?” While acknowledging that everything Catholics believe is implicitly or explicitly found in scripture, Father Mike emphasizes that the Church is not optional but essential. He states that Jesus gave the Church, not just the Bible, and empowered the Church to teach and interpret the Bible, suggesting that without the Church, even devout individuals might misunderstand core teachings.
Father Mike then delves into the doctrine of Corpus Christi, the belief that Jesus is truly present—body, blood, soul, and divinity—in the Eucharist. He recounts discussing John chapter 6 with his godmother, where Jesus repeatedly emphasizes the necessity of eating his flesh and drinking his blood for eternal life. He points out that if Jesus had been speaking figuratively, he would have clarified, but instead, he “quintuples down,” reaffirming the literal interpretation. Father Mike notes that for 1500 years, this was the sole interpretation among Christians, and it remains “absolutely clear in the Bible,” yet without the Church, this truth can be missed.
To further support this, Father Mike cites early Church figures. Ignatius of Antioch (died 107 AD), a disciple of John the Beloved, explicitly stated that the Eucharist is the “flesh of our savior Jesus Christ.” Justin Martyr (around 150 AD) also described the early Christian gathering, which closely resembles the Mass, and affirmed that the blessed food is the “flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.” These historical accounts underscore that the early Church unequivocally believed in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, asserting that it is not a mere symbol.
Finally, Father Mike highlights the profound significance of the Eucharist for Christians, referencing the 4th-century martyrs of Abitinae who faced death for participating in the Mass. One martyr powerfully declared, “It is the Sunday Eucharist that makes the Christian and the Christian that makes the Sunday Eucharist; one cannot exist without the other.” Father Mike asserts that if the Eucharist isn’t truly Jesus, then Catholics would be idolaters for worshipping it. He concludes by mentioning Eucharistic miracles, such as those in Lanciano and Buenos Aires, where scientific examination confirmed the presence of living human heart tissue and blood type AB, emphasizing these as God’s miraculous reaffirmations of the Real Presence. He stresses that the Eucharist is Jesus’s “greatest gift” and that the Church, along with Scripture, is essential as the “pillar and foundation of truth.”
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
​​​Andy Stanley explores the profound impact of music, particularly in the context of faith and worship, drawing parallels between song lyrics and abbreviated sermons. He emphasizes that songs can deeply affect individuals by connecting them to specific memories or seasons of life. Stanley notes that music has been integral to worship from the beginning of time, fostering a sense of transcendence and connecting people with the divine. He explains that thoughtful song lyrics are like condensed sermons with embedded messages, and he plans to deeply examine some worship songs in the coming weeks.
Stanley delves into the song “Bigger Than I Thought” by Sean Curran, Natalie Sims, and Allan Swoop, explaining its personal resonance due to the pressures of his role as a preacher. He analyzes the verses as a prayer, highlighting lines such as “Speak to me when the silence steals my voice,” reflecting moments of desperate need for God’s guidance, and “Come to me in the valley of unknowns,” describing times of uncertainty. He also discusses the line “I believe, but help my unbelief,” drawn from a story in Mark’s Gospel, emphasizing the honesty and vulnerability of having a fragile faith with doubts.
The chorus of the song, “So I throw all my cares before you, my doubts and my fears… You’re bigger than I thought you were,” reflects Peter’s instruction to cast all cares on God. Stanley encourages complete honesty with God, bringing all frustrations and anger. Another key line, “I stop all negotiations with the God of all creation,” signifies a shift from bargaining to trusting God’s will.
Finally, the line “I will rest in the Father’s hands and leave the rest in the Father’s hands” is presented as a daily declaration of surrender and trust. Stanley concludes that “wrestling leads to surrender,” not necessarily answers, but surrender puts us where God wants us to be. The sermon emphasizes the power of music to convey deep truths and connect believers with God, encouraging a posture of surrender and trust in God’s will.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
Fr. Jared begins his homily by recounting a miracle from the life of St. John Bosco. On a Sunday in March 1848, while celebrating Mass for poor boys, St. John Bosco found himself with too few hosts for the large congregation. After a moment of prayer, he distributed communion, and miraculously, everyone received without him running out. St. John Bosco, while acknowledging the miracle, stated that he witnesses an even greater miracle daily: the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.
The homily then turns to the Gospel reading, where Jesus multiplies a few loaves and fish to feed thousands. This miracle, appearing in all four Gospels, demonstrates Jesus’s divine providence and generosity. He is able to do much with little, and He provides more than the bare minimum, as evidenced by the twelve baskets of leftovers.
Fr. Jared emphasizes that the transformation of bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood is an even greater miracle than the multiplication of loaves and fish. St. Paul’s account of the Last Supper describes this transformative event, highlighting its significance in Christian tradition. Through this miracle, Jesus manifests His divine authority to change reality.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
This sermon, “Astonishing: Living a Life That Leads to Why,” by Louie Giglio, centers on the concept of living a life that causes others to inquire about one’s faith, drawing inspiration from Peter and John in the Book of Acts. The speaker recounts a conversation with pastor John Tyson, who expressed a desire to “raise up and release into the world astonishing disciples.” This phrase became the seedbed for the sermon series, emphasizing that true followers of Jesus should live lives filled with such awe and wonder that it prompts questions from those around them. The core scripture for this message is Acts 4:13, where Peter and John, despite being unschooled and ordinary men, displayed astonishing courage and boldness in proclaiming Jesus, leading others to realize “these men had been with Jesus.”
The sermon delves into the events leading to Peter and John’s astonishing display. It revisits Acts chapter 3, where Peter and John, on their way to the temple, encounter a lame man begging for money. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, tells the man, “in the name of Jesus Christ Get up and walk,” and the man is miraculously healed. This miracle astonishes the crowd, prompting Peter to preach a powerful, spontaneous sermon, explaining that the healing was through Jesus, whom the people had crucified but God had raised from the dead. This sermon, deemed “the greatest sermon ever” by the speaker, led to thousands believing, but also resulted in Peter and John’s arrest by the temple guard and Sadducees who were disturbed by their teachings on Jesus’s resurrection.
Despite their imprisonment, Peter and John, when questioned by the religious leaders (the same ones who orchestrated Jesus’s crucifixion), boldly declare that the man was healed by the “name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” This boldness, stemming from being filled with the Holy Spirit, further astonishes the leaders, who note their lack of formal training yet undeniable courage. The speaker highlights several “big ideas” from this text: the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary people to do extraordinary things, always with the purpose of opening eyes to see Jesus, and astonishing lives naturally lead to questions that provide opportunities to share about Jesus.
Finally, the sermon emphasizes that the Holy Spirit fills believers with “astonishing boldness to speak the name of Jesus.” This boldness isn’t necessarily loud or annoying, but a spirit-led wisdom on when and how to speak. The speaker underscores that proximity to Jesus leads to lives that resemble Him, and being astonishing is the fruit of walking closely with Jesus and being filled with the Spirit. The sermon concludes by highlighting that Peter and John, facing threats, prayed for more boldness rather than protection, demonstrating a desire to continue proclaiming Jesus regardless of the opposition. The speaker challenges the audience to be “astonishing disciples” who show the world that following Jesus leads to change and transformation, reflecting Jesus in their daily lives.
Listen to the full version here.
Trinity Anglican Church
Kris McDaniel addresses the bewilderment many feel about complex global issues like conflicts and pandemics, admitting his own feelings of inadequacy as a public health or geopolitical expert. He emphasizes that in such moments of uncertainty, prayer is the most effective response, urging listeners to pray for peace, for leaders, and for mercy in a world seemingly bent on conflict. He specifically mentions the small yet consequential nature of Jerusalem and asks for wisdom to avoid simplistic judgments on overwhelmingly complex matters, advocating for a spirit of mercy in both global realities and personal hearts.
McDaniel transitions to a reading from Galatians, explaining that the church is entering “ordinary time,” a season for growth. He expresses his appreciation for the Anglican rhythm of the church calendar and the study of epistles, which he views as “descriptive versus prescriptive” accounts of early Christians’ struggles. These letters, he notes, reveal the messy realities of faith within community, assuring listeners that the challenges faced by ancient believers were similar to those faced today. He praises the Bible for not presenting a sanitized, propaganda-like view, but rather showing the authentic struggles of people to understand God and get along.
He then paints a picture of the Galatian Christians, describing them as Romans who, despite Paul’s missionary efforts, were struggling to get along, believing damaging teachings, and reverting from the gospel message. McDaniel highlights that Paul, as an embattled and often discounted leader, had to assert his authority at the beginning of his letter to ensure they would listen. He introduces Paul’s assertion that “the law is your nanny,” explaining that the law served to guard, guide, and instill values until believers matured in Christ. This “nanny” figure was not a harsh ruler but a caretaker who helped them embody Christian culture internally, freeing them from external legalistic constraints.
Finally, McDaniel delves into Paul’s teaching that believers are “justified by faith,” which he interprets as growing into trustworthiness, faithfulness, and reliability in Christ, moving beyond mere rule-following to internalizing God’s spirit. He emphasizes being “in Christ,” meaning being consumed into God’s life rather than just adding Jesus to an already busy life—a lifelong, challenging project. He concludes with Paul’s declaration that in Christ, there is “no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female,” stressing that while these distinctions exist, they are not of primary importance. The ultimate message is that all believers belong to one family in Christ, challenging listeners to overcome divisions based on race, ethnicity, politics, or personal preferences, and to fight for unity in a world conditioned to divide.
Listen to the full version here.
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