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 explores the power of perspective and how our focus shapes the stories of our lives. He begins by discussing how people often judge by outward appearances, using the example of President Warren G. Harding, who looked like a leader but felt incompetent, and the biblical story of Samuel choosing David. Fr. Mike emphasizes that while humans see the exterior, God looks into the heart. He challenges listeners to consider what they are scanning for in their own “autobiographies”—whether they are looking for the 5% of life that is going wrong or the 95% that is going right.
Fr. Mike delves into the concept of cynicism versus wisdom, noting that humans are often biologically hardwired to look for the negative as a survival mechanism. Using the Parable of the Prodigal Son, he highlights the older brother, who stands on the outside looking in, choosing anger and suspicion over the joy of his brother’s return. He warns that cynicism is not a mark of intelligence but rather a defense mechanism used to avoid being hurt or exploited. To move past cynicism requires courage because suspicion often finds what it suspects, leading us to miss the beauty and “blue things” in life because we are only looking for the “red.”
The heart of the homily focuses on the character of the Father, who models a different way of seeing. Unlike the older son, the Father scans the horizon with hope and courage, looking for a reason to celebrate. Fr. Mike describes the Father as someone who “steals joy”—he takes the simple fact that his son is alive and uses it as an opportunity to rejoice, regardless of whether the son has fully learned his lesson or changed his ways. This capacity to find and seize joy is presented as the antidote to the “suffering of being unable to love,” which Fr. Mike identifies as a definition of hell.
Ultimately, Fr. Mike concludes that the goal of our life’s story is not just to be the younger son who is welcomed home or the older son who is invited in, but to become the Father. We are called to be people who can face the resentment of the world and still invite others into joy. He encourages the faithful to be courageous enough to look for hope and to “steal joy” every chance they get. Who we become at the end of our autobiography depends entirely on what we choose to pay attention to today.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
Andy Stanley addresses the critical role of personal ministry in spiritual growth, arguing that engaging in service is often the primary catalyst for a deeper faith. He notes that while “inflection points” in life are often unrecognizable as they occur, looking back reveals that saying “yes” to an invitation to serve frequently marks the beginning of a heightened awareness of and dependence on God. Using the “Deeper Wider” initiative as a backdrop, Stanley emphasizes that the church’s mission isn’t just about financial generosity but about mobilizing individuals to step into transformational roles that serve others locally and globally.
Stanley identifies five “faith catalysts” that God consistently uses to mature believers: practical teaching, providential relationships, pivotal circumstances, private disciplines, and personal ministry. He asserts that a systematic commitment to serving—where others are depending on you—accomplishes something that merely attending services or studying privately cannot. By moving from being a “spectator” in a row to being an active participant in a circle, believers are forced to confront their own inadequacies and insecurities. This state of “pouring out” creates a unique spiritual vacuum that allows God to “pour in” His power and presence in ways that information alone never could.
Addressing parents specifically, Stanley highlights that engaging children and students in active ministry is the most effective way to ensure their faith remains sticky and durable. He challenges the notion that kids simply need more information, pointing out that many adults who grew up “knowing the faith” eventually walked away because it was never activated through service. By involving the next generation in ministry, they experience God using them firsthand, which builds an internal “faith muscle” that resists the common drift toward apathy or skepticism. He maintains that doing is stickier than listening and is essential for a lasting spiritual foundation.
The sermon concludes with a reflection on the miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand, where the disciples were commanded to do something they were entirely incapable of doing: feeding a massive crowd with almost no resources. Stanley explains that Jesus did this not just to meet a physical need, but to prepare the disciples’ faith for the challenges ahead. He calls on the congregation to step out of their comfort zones and volunteer, suggesting that the act of serving is as transformational for the volunteer as it is for the recipient. Ultimately, he posits that you cannot truly follow Jesus from the sidelines; true transformation happens when you allow God to work through you to impact the lives of others.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
In his homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Father Jared Kleinwaechter focuses on the theme of “Amazing Grace” and the lens of giftedness. Drawing from the first reading where David is anointed as king, he emphasizes that God does not see as humans see; while we focus on outward appearances, God looks at the heart. David did not ask for the honor or promote himself; rather, God chose him because he was a “man after God’s own heart,” demonstrating that grace is often a gift received without being earned or even requested.
Father Jared further explores this theme through the Gospel account of Jesus healing the man born blind. He points out that this miracle was unique because, unlike other healings where a person or relative made a request, Jesus initiated the healing on his own. The blind man was simply minding his business when Jesus applied clay to his eyes—a surprising and unprompted act of grace. This illustrates how God often provides gifts that exceed our specific prayers and expectations, catching us by surprise with His generosity.
The progression of the blind man’s faith is also highlighted as a model for spiritual growth. Initially, the man simply obeys Jesus, but as he is questioned by the Pharisees, his courage grows. He eventually defends Jesus as a prophet and a man from God, even at the risk of being expelled from the synagogue. His journey culminates in a moment of worship when he recognizes Jesus as the Son of Man. Father Jared notes that this transformation from physical sight to spiritual insight is fueled by the grace he received, leading him to a deep, personal commitment to follow the light of Christ.
Finally, Father Jared connects these biblical narratives to the sacrament of Baptism and the Christian identity as “children of light.” He explains that most Christians receive the gift of baptism as infants without asking for it, an act of grace that removes the darkness of original sin and bestows the title of “lightbearer.” He warns against the pride of the Pharisees, who believed their own merits made them righteous. Instead, he invites the congregation to recognize that all faith and goodness are unmerited gifts from God, encouraging everyone to live with open hearts to see and rejoice in God’s gracious gifts.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
Louie Giglio uses Joshua chapter 12 to illustrate the difference between making a “profession of faith” and achieving the “possession of faith.” He explains that while many people stop at the initial decision to follow Christ, God calls believers to mature and take hold of the promises made to them. Using a financial analogy, he compares this to being a “trillionaire on paper” but living like a pauper; the goal of the Christian life is to get “off the paper” and actually walk in the territory God has provided. This transition requires a shift in mindset, acknowledging that the spiritual journey is not a “warm and fuzzy” experience but one that involves active engagement and growth.
Giglio highlights the historical account of Joshua defeating 31 kings to possess the Promised Land as proof that spiritual progress involves repeated battles. He outlines several characteristics of a “warrior mentality,” beginning with the awareness that believers are in a spiritual battle rather than on a cruise. A true warrior stays fixated on the ultimate victory—the “crown of righteousness”—rather than getting sidetracked by individual conflicts or the actions of others. This focus allows them to endure setbacks with perseverance, much like Jesus did when he endured the cross for the joy set before him, keeping his eyes on the redemption of humanity.
Furthermore, Giglio emphasizes that a warrior counts the cost and utilizes spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting to gain the upper hand in difficult situations. He points to the example of Paul, who, after being stoned and left for dead, immediately went back into the city to continue his mission because he had already counted the cost of following God. Giglio notes that some battles can only be won through intense prayer and fasting, a level of commitment often seen in other areas of life—like career advancement or sports—but frequently neglected in spiritual growth. He challenges the congregation to apply that same “vigor” to their faith, seeking out the biggest challenges and “mountains” rather than settling for easy paths.
The sermon concludes by reminding the audience that their strength comes from following the “Ultimate Warrior,” Jesus Christ, who has already gone before them and won every battle. Giglio explains that because Jesus is undefeated—having conquered depression, anxiety, betrayal, and death—believers are “more than conquerors” in him. Even in moments that look like earthly defeat, such as the martyrdom of Stephen, the warrior knows that the ultimate victory is secured in heaven. Giglio encourages everyone to move from a state of victimhood into being overcomers, trusting that while the path to possessing God’s promises isn’t easy, the victory is already accomplished through Christ.
Listen to the full version here.
Trinity Anglican Church
In his sermon “Psalm 23,” Kris McDaniel moves past the typical funeral associations of the text to present it as a poem about life, focusing on how God meets our most fundamental human needs for food, drink, and shelter. He challenges the “sentimental” view of the passage, explaining that when David calls God a shepherd, he is describing a steady, transcendent King who provides security in the midst of a volatile world. By reframing the restoration of the soul as God literally “keeping us alive,” McDaniel highlights our inherent vulnerability and the necessity of acknowledging our dependence on a power greater than ourselves.
McDaniel explores the “theological center” of the psalm—the valley of the shadow of death—arguing that the darkest and scariest parts of life are precisely where God is most present. He draws a distinction between the “rod” and the “staff,” describing the rod as a weapon for protection and discipline against enemies, while the staff is a tool for management and rescue from dangerous thickets. This imagery serves to remind the congregation that God’s comfort is not a passive feeling but an active defense and direction through visceral, “hellish” circumstances.
The message then shifts from the image of a shepherd to that of a host who prepares a table in the presence of enemies. McDaniel emphasizes that nourishment and safety are not dependent on changing our external circumstances—like a difficult job or a health crisis—but on recognizing that wherever we are with God is a “perfectly safe place to be.” He uses the example of theologian Dallas Willard, who maintained his sense of security even while facing terminal cancer, to illustrate that true spiritual stability transcends our temporal outcomes and is found in the immediate presence of the host.
Finally, McDaniel reinterprets the word “follow” in the closing verse to mean “pursue,” suggesting that God is in active, relentless pursuit of us with goodness and mercy. He contrasts this divine pursuit with the common biblical theme of enemies hunting the faithful, offering a perspective of being “God-haunted” in a gracious and loving way. The sermon concludes with a call to faith, asking the audience to identify where God is already showing up as their shepherd and to courageously verbalize their specific needs and desires to Him.
Listen to the full version here.
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