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.
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- Fr. Mike Schmitz
- Buckhead Church
- Cathedral of Christ the King
- Passion City Church
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Fr. Mike Schmitz
Fr. Mike Schmitz’s homily, “After This,” focuses on the concept of Purgatory and the purification required for the soul to enter heaven, coinciding with All Souls’ Day. The message begins by exploring the idea of the afterlife, positing that if an individual needs anything other than God—such as a pet, a hobby, or even a loved one—to be happy in heaven, their heart is not yet ready for perfect union with God. He quotes St. John of the Cross, stating, “In the twilight of our lives, we will be judged on love alone,” underscoring that the two great commandments to love God and neighbor must be fully realized. Therefore, if our current love is imperfect, our hearts must undergo a process of change and purification, which is the purpose of Purgatory.
The necessity of Purgatory is explained by differentiating between the two consequences of sin: eternal and temporal. The eternal consequence (hell) is removed by the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross. However, sin also leaves behind temporal consequences, such as attachments and habitual patterns that deaden the soul and make it easier to sin again. Fr. Mike provides an analogy of his back surgery to illustrate this point: the surgeon (Jesus) removed the herniated disc (the eternal consequence/problem), but he still needed months of physical therapy (the temporal consequence/purification) to fully heal and move correctly. Salvation is thus presented as both an event (redemption) and a necessary process (sanctification).
The homily contrasts the Catholic understanding of salvation with the Protestant view. Fr. Mike argues that the Protestant view of “declared righteousness” (imputed) suggests Christ’s righteousness covers the sinner without fundamentally changing them. In contrast, the Catholic view holds that righteousness is “intrinsic” (infused), meaning the grace of Christ actually changes us from within, making us genuinely righteous. This change begins at Baptism but continues as a lifelong process. The scriptural basis for this purification is found in 1 Corinthians 3, where St. Paul speaks of an individual’s work being tested by fire on the Day of the Lord, and a person being “saved, but only as through fire.” This fire represents God’s purifying presence, which burns away anything in the soul that is incompatible with heaven.
Fr. Mike concludes by shifting the perspective on Purgatory from fear to joy and confidence. He asserts that Purgatory is a gift of God’s mercy that completes the purification process begun in this life. Once a soul is there, they know they have “made it” to salvation, and every moment of purification brings them closer to the perfect love of heaven, just as a difficult flight is endured with joy, knowing the next stop is home. This understanding leads to the final, crucial point: the importance of praying for the dead. Citing the tradition of the Church and the example of St. Monica asking her son, St. Augustine, to “remember me at the altar,” he encourages listeners to pray for the souls in Purgatory as the final, greatest act of love and mercy, helping them fully prepare to enter eternal life.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
Andy Stanley’s sermon, delivered during the 30th-anniversary celebration of North Point Ministries, began by reiterating the organization’s founding vision: to create a “different kind of church” focused on outsiders and the unchurched. He established the core leadership philosophy: “Marry your mission, but date your model”, cautioning that irrelevance is just around the corner when an organization allows sustaining its model to replace its core mission. The church’s mission, mandated by Jesus, is to make disciples and multiply followers, which necessitates an “outward-facing” posture and a commitment to being more concerned about reaching people than keeping people.
The church’s strategy is to remove every unnecessary obstacle for people turning to God. Stanley grounds this in the first-century church’s decision to not make it difficult for Gentiles to join, quoting James: “It is my judgment therefore that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God”. This historical sacrifice guides their approach, ensuring that they assume non-Christians are in the room, making their services inviting, and teaching that following Jesus makes one’s life better regardless of one’s belief in Him.
Stanley then critiqued the trend of the modern evangelical church over the last decade. While the initial “modern church movement” (catalyzed in part by North Point’s influence) led to massive growth and an outward-facing posture, many influential churches have since turned inward. He lamented that in too many places, political affiliation has become a litmus test for orthodoxy, effectively putting up a “you’re not welcome” sign to half the country. He forcefully stated that the North Point network refuses to view the population in terms of “left and right” but in Jesus’ terms: “lost and found”, emphasizing that the mission field must not become a battlefield.
The sermon concludes with a powerful charge to remain stubbornly committed to the mission of their King. Stanley referenced the story of Nehemiah, whose rallying cry became the organization’s refrain: “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down”. He urged the congregation to embody the posture of the father in the Prodigal Son parable, who was always looking for and running toward his lost son, representing God’s unconditional welcome to those who are far off. He challenged the church to stay on the wall, keep their eyes on the road, and resist distractions so they can continue the great work of leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
Fr. Frank McNamee’s homily for All Souls’ Day emphasizes the solemnity and comfort of the day, urging the faithful to reflect upon and pray for their departed loved ones. He begins by addressing the common avoidance of discussing death and Purgatory, framing the commemoration as a profound mystery of love and a reminder of the Communion of Saints. This communion unites the Church on earth, in heaven, and in Purgatory, making the day one of faith, hope, and charity. The most direct expression of this charity is through the prayers and Masses offered for the souls who are still on their journey toward the fullness of heaven.
The central theme is drawn from the Gospel of John (John 6:37, 39), where Christ promises, “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” Fr. McNamee presents these words as a profound source of solace in grief, assuring listeners that Jesus’ arms are always open, regardless of whether the departed soul was saintly or struggling. Every soul is a sacred gift from the Father entrusted to the Son, and Christ’s boundless mercy is wider and deeper than human understanding, as demonstrated by His promise of paradise to the Good Thief. The Church’s practice of praying for the dead is, therefore, not born of doubt in God’s mercy, but of profound trust in it, as we entrust souls to the One who never casts anyone away.
Fr. McNamee explains Purgatory not as a punishment, but as the final stage of God’s love and mercy at work after death. It is a necessary purification for those who die in God’s grace but are not yet perfectly purified of attachments and imperfections. Citing Pope Benedict, the homily describes Purgatory as a place of hope where the “fire of truth” and “fire of love” burn away everything that resists God’s perfect will. This final transformation aligns with the Father’s will “that I should not lose anything,” assuring us that Christ accompanies and cleanses every soul until they are completely ready for eternal communion with God.
Finally, the homily shifts its focus to the living, calling All Souls’ Day a vital moment for conversion. It encourages the faithful to approach Jesus daily in prayer, confession, and the Eucharist, allowing Him to purify their hearts now and surrender attachments that would otherwise need to be “burnt away” after death. The message culminates with the glorious promise of the Resurrection: “I will raise them up on the last day.” This certainty of a future when the dead will rise, united body and soul, gives meaning to the present. Every prayer, Mass, and act of charity offered for the departed is presented as a powerful collaboration with God’s will, extending Christ’s own hand to help the souls awaiting heaven rise toward the eternal light.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
Louie Giglio’s sermon, “Desperate: All Consuming Fire,” begins with a powerful call for a profound and desperate desire for God in every single aspect of daily life, from the carpool line to business meetings, replacing the pursuit of a new “spiritual flow” with a yearning for God to be present in the flow already established. This posture of desperation is crucial because the message of the sermon is that when God truly arrives, everything that is not God is consumed in the light of His glory. Giglio challenges the audience to truly desire this total, consuming presence of God, a force that does not move politely but comes in all-encompassing power, demanding all of the space in our lives.
The central illustration of this divine power is the confrontation on Mount Carmel between the prophet Elijah and the 850 prophets of the pagan idols Baal and Asherah, as recorded in 1 Kings 18. This showdown was prompted by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel’s spiritual decay and three and a half years of drought, proving the impotence of Baal, the god of weather and fertility. When the prophets of Baal shouted, danced, and cut themselves, their idol failed to respond or send fire. In contrast, Elijah rebuilt the altar, took the stones to remind the people of their identity in the God of Israel, and set the stage for the true God to demonstrate His singular power.
The core takeaway from the story is found in Elijah’s challenge to the people: “How long will you waver between two opinions?” Giglio explains that the word “waver” (pasach) means to “limp” or “skip back and forth,” illustrating the pathetic condition of those trying to serve both God and their idols (like reputation, money, or pleasure). This condition is contrasted with Elijah, who was “all-in,” with no plan B, even pouring twelve jars of water over the sacrifice and altar to make the miracle undeniable. The sermon encourages the audience to adopt this same posture, warning against getting distracted by daily events and calling for a decisive “doubling down” on faith and commitment to God’s ways.
In his closing points, Giglio reveals that the Hebrew word for “waver” is the same one used to describe the angel of death passing over the homes in Egypt, symbolizing that God Himself is “all-in” on His decision to save His people. The only fitting response is for humanity to be equally all-in. He reassures those who feel isolated that God has a faithful remnant who have not bowed to the world’s idols, encouraging them to keep looking for God’s promised action. Ultimately, Giglio leaves the audience with a powerful image: when God’s all-consuming fire falls, only the Church, like a refined chimney, which was built to hold that fire, will remain, urging listeners to surrender everything that is not love for God to be purified and stand firm.
Listen to the full version here.
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