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
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Fr. Mike Schmitz
He Leadeth Me
Fr. Mike Schmitz delivers a powerful homily on John 3:16, emphasizing the profound truth that God loves the world and offers eternal life to those who believe in Him. He acknowledges the struggle that ordinary people face in choosing between darkness and light, recognizing that even though God can make saints out of ordinary individuals, they can also resist His grace. Fr. Mike draws parallels to the experiences of ordinary people, like Father Walter Chizek, who found themselves feeling powerless in the face of their past and present circumstances.
The homily delves into Father Chizek’s ordeal in a Soviet gulag, where he faced interrogation and struggled with decisions that seemed impossible given his past betrayals. Fr. Mike explores the human tendency to dwell on past mistakes and the feeling of powerlessness in the present, echoing Father Chizek’s experience of being owned by one’s past. The homily reflects on the challenge of stepping out of darkness into the light, emphasizing the importance of recognizing God’s grace in those moments.
Fr. Mike shares Father Chizek’s realization that, despite past failures, one can still turn to God in prayer, seeking help and surrendering to His will. The homily highlights the crucial aspect of self-abandonment and total surrender to God, drawing on Father Chizek’s transformation in solitary confinement. The message resonates with the idea that, even in moments of despair and darkness, God’s grace can bring healing and strength, making individuals not only whole again but even stronger than before.
The homily concludes with a powerful analogy of the Japanese art of Kintsugi, comparing broken pottery repaired with gold or silver to the transformative power of God’s grace. Fr. Mike emphasizes that, through surrender and trust, God can take brokenness and make individuals better than new. The invitation is clear: despite feeling owned by the past and powerless in the present, God’s grace offers a path to restoration and transformation, allowing individuals to step into the light and become something entirely new.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
Ecclesia
In this sermon by Andy Stanley, the speaker recounts an incident from the Book of Acts, specifically focusing on Peter and John’s boldness in preaching after a miraculous healing. The narrative centers on a formerly lame man who, after being healed, begins walking and leaping and praising God. This creates a scene in the temple, drawing attention to Peter and John.
Peter seizes the opportunity to preach and attributes the healing to Jesus of Nazareth. He boldly proclaims that the people had killed the author of life, but God had raised him from the dead. Peter challenges the crowd to repent and turn to God, claiming that sins can be erased through Jesus.
The temple leaders feel threatened, as Peter’s message undermines the entire temple system. They order the arrest of Peter and John, but many believe their message, and the number of believers grows to about 5,000. Despite being imprisoned overnight, Peter and John remain steadfast.
The next day, they face a public trial, where Peter boldly confronts the high priest and elders, accusing them of crucifying Jesus. The leaders are astonished by the courage of these unschooled, ordinary men but warn them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Peter responds that they cannot help speaking about what they have seen and heard.
The sermon highlights the foundation of faith for the early Christians—eyewitness accounts of the resurrection of Jesus. The speaker emphasizes the importance of boldness in sharing one’s faith, urging the audience to pray for the courage to speak up when fear tells them to remain silent. The challenge is extended to the congregation to pray this boldness prayer daily until Easter. The sermon concludes with a personal example of a staff member embracing this challenge and inviting someone to church, illustrating the potential impact of boldness in sharing one’s faith.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
In Monsignor Frank McNamee’s homily, he shares a poignant story of a couple married for over 60 years, highlighting their openness and commitment to each other. The narrative unfolds with a shoebox on the closet, a secret the wife had kept throughout their marriage. When she falls ill, the wife reveals the contents to her husband, exposing two crocheted dolls and $95,000. The dolls, crafted during times of anger as advised by her grandmother for a happy marriage, symbolize only two instances of discord in their six decades together. The money, earned from selling the dolls, adds a touching layer to the story.
Transitioning to a reflection on the Lenten season, Msgr. McNamee draws a parallel between the couple’s enduring love and God’s sacrifice for humanity through the crucifixion of Jesus. He underscores the transformative power of the cross, urging listeners to contemplate its significance and recognize it as a symbol of hope, victory, and salvation. The homily encourages a deep reflection on the cross or crucifix within homes, emphasizing its role as a tangible reminder of God’s unconditional love, grace, and mercy.
Msgr. McNamee poignantly connects the couple’s story to the crosses individuals bear in their lives, acknowledging the difficulties and hardships they entail. By looking to Christ on the cross as a source of transformation and hope, he invites believers to carry the message of the cross in their daily lives, mirroring the selfless and sacrificial love exemplified by Jesus. The homily concludes with a call to renew faith and hope during Lent, viewing the cross not as a scandal but as a symbol of ultimate victory and salvation through Christ’s sacrifice.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
Epicenter
Louie Giglio’s sermon focuses on the concluding verses of Romans chapter 8, addressing a fundamental question that many people grapple with: “If God is loving, why do bad things happen?” He acknowledges that this question is a significant challenge to people’s faith and often serves as a tool used by the enemy to undermine one’s trust in God.
Giglio emphasizes the importance of understanding the context of the entire chapter of Romans 8, considering it a pinnacle chapter in the Bible. He highlights the key message that, despite the present sufferings and challenges in life, God works for the good of those who love Him. The sermon explores the question of what response believers should have when faced with adversity, especially when the enemy raises doubts about God’s love.
Louie Giglio delves into specific verses from Romans 8, focusing on the assurance that comes from being in Christ. He examines verses like “If God is for us, who can be against us?” and emphasizes the reasoning behind this statement, pointing to God’s graciousness in giving His own Son. Giglio also addresses the concepts of justification and condemnation, asserting that believers are justified and not condemned because of their position in Christ.
The sermon concludes with a powerful declaration that nothing can separate believers from the love of Christ. Giglio expresses the conviction that, regardless of circumstances, challenges, or even death, believers are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. The emphasis is on the unshakable love of God that prevails over all things, bringing a sense of assurance and hope to those facing difficulties.
Listen to the full version here.
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