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
• Want to add your church? Request that here

Fr. Mike Schmitz

In his homily titled “Autobiography: Title,” Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the idea that every person’s life is a story and every individual is its author. He focuses on the title of our lives—the central theme or lens through which we interpret our experiences. Fr. Mike suggests that this title is often formed by a speech or internal narrative that runs through our minds, dictating how we see ourselves, others, and God. He uses the stories of Fr. Walter Ciszek and Immaculée Ilibagiza to demonstrate how individuals can choose a title of trust and forgiveness even in the midst of extreme suffering and devastation.

Central to the homily is an analysis of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, through which Fr. Mike identifies two distinct types of internal narratives. The younger son represents those who have rebelled and feel disqualified or fatherless, rehearsing a speech that they are no longer worthy of being a son but only a slave. Conversely, the older son—representing the “good church kids”—struggles with a narrative of resentment. He feels like a victim-hero who has slaved away without recognition, believing his value lies only in his lack of problems rather than in a relationship with his father.

Fr. Mike warns that resentment is particularly dangerous because it canonizes a painful chapter, turning a wound into the title of the entire book. He cites Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, as a modern example of a title named after a wound—the feeling of being a backup plan rather than someone who matters. This resentment paralyzes the heart and prevents us from entering into the party of God’s love, leading us to stay home while remaining spiritually lost.

The remedy for a broken or resentful autobiography is to bring our honest speech to the Father and then listen to His response. Fr. Mike emphasizes that in both cases, the Father’s voice is one of claiming his children; he tells the younger son he is alive and found, and he tells the older son that everything he has is already theirs. By listening to God’s voice—as Jesus did at the Transfiguration—we can find a title of being beloved and claimed, which has the power to undo resentment and rewrite our story through the lens of divine mercy.

Listen to the full version here.

Buckhead Church

Andy Stanley addresses the tension between who we are and who we have the potential to become. He suggests that while potential is often viewed as a gift, it can also become a source of profound pressure and dissatisfaction. Stanley argues that many people spend their lives chasing a version of themselves that doesn’t actually exist yet, leading to a constant state of “becoming” that prevents them from ever truly arriving or finding peace in their current circumstances.

The core of the message explores the idea that our potential is not something we own, but something we are stewards of. Stanley points out that we often measure our potential based on our own desires and the expectations of others, which leads to anxiety. He shifts the perspective by suggesting that our potential is actually God’s vision for our lives, and that trying to reach it through our own strength or for our own glory is a recipe for burnout. He emphasizes that the “gap” between our current reality and our potential is where God does His most significant work.

Stanley also touches on the common pitfalls that hinder us from reaching our God-given potential, specifically focusing on the distractions of immediate gratification and the fear of failure. He explains that many people trade their long-term potential for short-term comfort, essentially selling their “birthright” for a bowl of stew, much like the biblical figure Esau. By prioritizing what we want now over what we want most, we inadvertently shrink the boundaries of what God can do through us, leading to a life of “what ifs” and regret.

In conclusion, Stanley encourages the audience to surrender their potential to God rather than trying to manage it themselves. He asserts that when we stop trying to manufacture our own greatness and instead focus on being faithful in the small things, God takes responsibility for the outcome. The remedy for the “problem of potential” is trust: believing that God is more invested in our future than we are. By trusting Him, we can find the freedom to work hard without the crushing weight of having to prove ourselves, ultimately allowing our lives to unfold according to His perfect timing and purpose.

Listen to the full version here.

Cathedral of Christ The King

In his homily for the Second Sunday of Lent, Monsignor Frank McNamee reflects on the Transfiguration of Jesus, contrasting the mountaintop experience with the desert temptations of the previous week. He notes that while the mountaintop is a place of glory and comfort, Lent serves as a reminder that we must eventually descend to confront “Jerusalem” in our own lives—the difficult realities, crosses, and sins we often try to avoid.

A central theme of the homily is the necessity of “intentional silence” to truly hear God’s voice. Monsignor McNamee explains that silence is the “great language of God” and that transformation requires creating an interior space detached from the noise of modern life. He emphasizes that listening to God is not just a passive activity but a discipline rooted in humility and reverence, as modeled by the disciples who fell prostrate when they heard the Father’s voice.

Monsignor McNamee further discusses how listening to Jesus means embracing challenging teachings, such as self-denial and taking up one’s cross. He points out that Lent exposes the gap between what we profess and how we actually live, calling for the Word of God to correct our lives. He warns that resisting God’s will often leads to resentment and anger, which we then use to justify our refusal to listen to Him.

Ultimately, the homily concludes that transformation begins with the daily disciplines of prayer, scripture, and the sacraments. Monsignor McNamee reassures the faithful that the same voice commanding us to listen is also the one that consoles us, saying, “Rise up and do not be afraid.” By submitting to God’s will and confronting our “journey to Jerusalem,” we find that the cross is not the end, but the necessary path to the resurrection.

Listen to the full version here.

Passion City Church

Jonathan Pickens uses the biblical account of the fall of Jericho to teach believers how to navigate life’s obstacles. He emphasizes that the story is not just a historical event but a blueprint for how God’s people should respond when faced with seemingly insurmountable barriers. Pickens argues that when a “wall” stands in the way of God’s mission or a person’s life, the primary response should be worship, as our responsibility is obedience while God’s role is to perform the miraculous.

Pickens highlights that authentic worship begins with a right view of God, pointing to Joshua’s encounter with the “commander of the Lord’s army.” When Joshua asks whose side this mysterious figure is on, the answer “Neither” reveals that God does not join human agendas; rather, He invites us to join His. This perspective shifts the focus from asking God to bless our plans to surrendering our lives to His holy purposes. Pickens notes that the heavy repetition of the number seven in the text underscores that God’s goal is not just the destruction of walls, but the completion of His redemptive work and the establishment of His presence at the center of our struggles.

Addressing the call for “quiet obedience,” Pickens explains that the Israelites’ silent march around Jericho demonstrates that faith often requires a discipline of restraint before a loud victory. He warns that believers should avoid “image management”—merely mowing over the surface of their problems—and instead seek to uproot the “invasive species” of sin at its source using gospel truth. Just as the Israelites were commanded to put to death everything that kept them from God, Christians are called to eliminate internal sin that hinders their relationship with the Father.

The sermon concludes with the power of the “shout,” which Pickens clarifies was not a means to gain victory but a celebration of a victory God had already granted. He shares a moving story of a student named Victoria who worshiped from her hospital bed despite a life-threatening illness, illustrating that believers can sing from a position of victory even when their circumstances haven’t changed. Ultimately, Pickens points to Jesus as the one who tore down the ultimate wall of hostility between God and humanity, providing the grace and power for believers to possess the spiritual “land” God has promised them.

Listen to the full version here.

Trinity Anglican Church

In his sermon based on Psalm 33, Nate Smith explores the theme of God’s watchfulness and the “contagious” nature of divine blessing. He begins by tracing the biblical roots of faith from Abraham to Jesus, noting that God’s choice of a specific people was not exclusive but a strategy for the person-to-person transmission of grace. Smith emphasizes that believers are designed to be channels rather than just reservoirs of blessing, a reality that should shift our perspective toward generosity and material things.

Addressing the concept of God’s gaze, Smith reframes the idea of the Lord “looking down from heaven.” Rather than a cold surveillance camera, he likens God’s attention to a watchful father standing on the sidelines of a high school football game—less concerned with the “scoreboard” of our lives and more focused on our safety, spiritual health, and ultimate formation. He explains that God sees beyond the surface into our deepest intentions and shared humanity, offering a singular focus that provides security even when we are unaware of His presence.

Smith warns against the “vain hope” of human strength, wealth, and power, which often represent futile attempts to control the uncontrollable. He highlights that our most significant battles are internal, involving spiritual struggles that we are powerless to manage on our own. Drawing a parallel to medical science, he compares God’s hesed (steadfast love) to the circulatory system: a life-giving force that protects and provides, even when the recipient is unconscious of its work.

In the concluding section, Smith provides a practical response to God’s love through a framework of trust, hope, and rejoicing. He describes trust as believing in God’s good intentions, hope as waiting on His timing even when plans fail, and rejoicing as the carefree skipping of a child who feels totally safe with their father. He ends with an invitation to join the “divine dance” of God’s love, urging the congregation to let their wills be impelled by the same grace that moves the sun and stars.

Listen to the full version here.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on our site are written by our local community of contributors as a reflection of their personal experiences. All information is researched and provided in good faith, however, it does not necessarily represent the views of the organization they’re writing about nor that of the City on Purpose staff, and/or any/all contributors of this site. If there are issues with the accuracy of this piece, we want to fix them. Please contact City on Purpose to submit a request for an update. We strive to be an honest resource for all those in the city – thanks for helping us make that possible! You can also review our full Disclaimer, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Policy.