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
In this homily, Father Mike Schmitz talks about the importance of using the gifts that God has given us. He begins with a story about himself receiving a bike as a gift from his parents. Even though he was grateful for the gift, he couldn’t use it because he didn’t have space for it in his house. This leads him to the point that simply saying thank you is not enough for a gift; we should use the gifts in order to express our gratitude.
Father Mike then connects this idea to the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not meant to be kept to oneself, but to be used to build up the body of Christ. He uses the example of the Apostles in the Acts of the Apostles, who went out and used the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel message.
Father Mike concludes the homily by urging the listener to use the gifts that God has given them. He says that even the simplest things, like using our bodies to walk or run, can be a way to praise God. He also points out that God is glorified when we use our gifts, even if not for religious purposes. He ends with an anecdote about Eric Liddell, a Scottish runner who believed that God was glorified when he used his running ability.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
What Our World Needs Now
Andy Stanley talks about the importance of living a Christlike life. He says that even though Christians sometimes fail to live up to their expectations, they should not give up. He encourages the audience to submit to God’s will and to walk in the spirit.
Andy also talks about the importance of prayer. He says that when we are feeling weak or tempted, we should pray to the Holy Spirit for help. The sermon ends with a call to action, encouraging the audience to keep in step with the Holy Spirit.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
Fr. Frank McNamee delivers a homily for Pentecost Sunday. He talks about the significance of the Holy Spirit and how it empowers the Church.
He starts the homily by explaining the feast of Pentecost and how it celebrates the birth of the Church. He talks about the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit and the spreading of the faith. He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is alive within each and every one of us. We should be open to the Holy Spirit and allow it to guide us.
Fr. McNamee talks about the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon the apostles. He explains each gift and how it strengthens the believer. The gifts are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
Brad Jones talks about how Jesus is always on the move doing miracles and people are getting saved everywhere. He warns the listeners that it is easy to miss what God is doing if they are not careful. He encourages the listeners to ask themselves if they are moving with Jesus and if their focus is on what Jesus wants them to do.
Brad uses the story of the blind man healed by Jesus from the Gospel of Luke to illustrate his points. The blind man calls out to Jesus for mercy and Jesus stops to heal him even though the crowd tries to silence the blind man. He reflects on how Jesus sees the unseen and encourages the listeners to pray that God would help them see the people he sees. He also talks about the importance of believing in the power of God to change anyone.
Listen to the full version here.
Trinity Anglican Church
Matthew Browne begins with a prayer, emphasizing the importance of comprehending this vital aspect of the faith. He establishes the Holy Spirit not as an impersonal force or energy, but as a distinct person – part of the Godhead. Drawing a parallel to the events of Acts chapter 2, Browne argues that the Holy Spirit empowers the Church, enabling it to function effectively.
To illustrate the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, Browne uses the metaphor of a wilderness. He suggests that our hearts can resemble such a barren landscape, devoid of spiritual growth. He then references the story of Ezekiel, highlighting the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, which can breathe life into this spiritual wasteland and bring about renewal.
The sermon concludes with another prayer, this time inviting the congregation to participate in a moment of self-reflection. Browne encourages them to confess their sins and open themselves to receiving the Holy Spirit’s transformative power.
Listen to the full version here.
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