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 for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Mike Schmitz uses the simple linguistic concept of the “apostrophe s”—referencing a humorous Mitch Hedberg joke about a Reese’s candy bar—to illustrate a profound spiritual reality: true ownership belongs to God. Just as Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that coins bear Caesar’s image and inscription, everything in our temporary lives ultimately belongs to our Creator. Fr. Mike explains that God has a rightful claim over humanity based on three primary titles: He is our Manufacturer who made us, our Purchaser who bought us at a price, and our Owner who lovingly cares for us.
To bring this concept to life, Fr. Mike shares the harrowing yet inspiring story of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese girl who was kidnapped by slave traders at the age of seven and endured twelve years of brutal abuse. Stripped of her freedom and given a name by her captors that ironically meant “fortunate,” Bakhita eventually encountered an Italian man who handed her a crucifix. Looking upon the wounds of Jesus, she recognized a God who did not demand that she suffer for Him, but rather a God who had willingly suffered for her.
Bakhita was subsequently baptized, entered religious life as a sister, and spent the remainder of her days joyfully celebrating her true identity. Toward the end of her life, she famously declared that she was definitively loved and awaited by love because she belonged completely to God. Fr. Mike connects her story back to the Genesis account of human beings being created in God’s image, emphasizing that no matter our past or our mistakes, we are already stamped with God’s name. Ultimately, the Christian life is simply learning to live out that God-given “apostrophe s” that has been there all along.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
Stanley introduces Joel Thomas as the unanimous choice recommended by the elders to succeed him as senior pastor and senior leader of the organization, effective January 1, with Joel also taking over as lead pastor of North Point Community Church in May. Sharing a comprehensive look at Joel’s extensive history with the ministry—ranging from serving as the church’s very first intern and launching successful young adult ministries to leading churches in both Atlanta and Arizona—Stanley expresses absolute confidence in Joel’s exceptional leadership and deep commitment to the church’s mission.
Explaining the church’s unique organizational structure and voting process, Stanley notes that because the church’s constitution requires congregational approval for installing a new senior pastor, approximately 50,000 eligible participants who are active in small groups, volunteering, financial giving, or children’s check-in will receive a ballot to vote on the elders’ recommendation. He encourages every qualified member of the congregation to participate in this important vote and to support Joel in stepping into this vital leadership role.
Concluding the message on an emotional and deeply grateful note, Stanley clarifies that while he is retiring from his current staff position, he is not retiring from ministry and plans to redeploy as an ambassador for the church network internationally, continue preaching occasionally, and serve on the board if elected. Looking back on the extraordinary growth of the ministry since its founding, he and his wife express profound gratitude for being able to make this work their life’s calling, leaving the congregation confident that the church is moving into an exciting new chapter.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
In this homily delivered for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Msgr. Frank McNamee begins with a lighthearted anecdote about a florist flower arrangement mix-up involving a new store and a funeral note. He uses this humorous opening to transition into practical parish updates, specifically discussing the ongoing cathedral feasibility study and plans for a new adoration chapel, columbarium, and expanded meeting spaces.
Connecting these community challenges to the Sunday Gospel reading where the Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus about paying the census tax, Msgr. McNamee invites the congregation to look beyond the coin. He emphasizes that while Caesar may have his image stamped on currency and holds legitimate earthly authority, humanity is created in the image and likeness of God, meaning our entire existence ultimately belongs to Him.
Expanding on this distinction, Msgr. McNamee reminds the faithful that we are only temporary citizens of this world whose true citizenship is in heaven. He urges parishioners to be responsible, honest citizens who respect legitimate authority, while sternly cautioning them never to surrender their conscience to political parties, ideologies, or fear.
Concluding the homily, Msgr. McNamee encourages the congregation to bring their families, work, struggles, and futures to the altar, recognizing that everything we possess comes from God. He calls on the faithful to live each day mindful of whose image they bear, so that when their earthly journey ends, they may hear the Lord welcome them into eternal life as good and faithful servants.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
In this message from Passion City Church based on Ephesians 1:13–14, Pastor Louie Giglio explores the profound identity and security believers have in Christ, focusing on the ultimate label that we belong to God and are “His.” He notes that while earthly labels like our latest achievements, failures, or bank statements often try to define us, they are ultimately not definitive compared to who we are in Christ. Believers are marked with the promised Holy Spirit, who acts as a seal of ownership and a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance as God’s prized possession.
Building on this theme, Giglio outlines four incredible implications of being God’s possession: absolute value and worth derived from His approval rather than human validation, absolute awareness because God knows us intimately down to the very hairs on our head, absolute security and protection because no one can snatch us out of His hand, and absolute devotion to His will. Drawing an analogy to a rancher who intimately knows every numbered cow in his herd, he emphasizes that God knows His people personally and marks them with His signet seal of authority.
Transitioning from the security of belonging to God to the call of active service, Giglio challenges the congregation to adopt an ownership mentality rather than a temporary “renting” mindset. God has gone all in by purchasing believers with His blood, and in response, believers should be all in for Him, fully available to do His will. He reminds listeners that true fulfillment comes not just from knowing we are loved and protected, but from living out our devotion to Him.
Concluding the message, Giglio paints a powerful picture of God’s desire for a unified, faithful people on earth who reflect heaven in a dark and broken world. Amid division, fear, and hopelessness, God looks upon the struggles of humanity and declares that He has a people—a holy, shining, and generous community—tasked with bringing light, justice, truth, and the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in need.
Listen to the full version here.
Trinity Anglican Church
Chris Hiler Albert explores the familiar Gospel account from Matthew 22 where the Pharisees and Herodians attempt to trap Jesus by asking whether it is lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar. He highlights the tense historical and political backdrop of the question, noting that the religious leaders hoped to back Jesus into a corner where he would either alienate the oppressed crowd by supporting Roman taxation or commit treason by opposing it. Instead of falling into their trap, Jesus asks for a coin, points out Caesar’s image and inscription, and delivers His famous command: to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.
Albert shifts the focus from a mere political or economic instruction to a profound spiritual reality about human identity and control. Drawing on the historical example of the early Christian martyrs in Carthage who bravely proclaimed “Honor to Caesar as Caesar, but fear God alone,” he emphasizes that the coin’s tribute was about more than money—it addressed humanity’s deep-seated desire to manufacture safety and security through control. When we rely on our bank accounts, achievements, or personal management to protect us, we fall into a false sense of security born of fear and scarcity.
Contrasting Caesar’s image stamped on currency with the reality that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God, Albert explains that we are God’s “coin.” While Caesar’s way demands that we aggressively grasp for control and power, God’s way invites us to open our hands, loosen our grips, and receive from Him. He illustrates this childlike trust using the story of Jesus calming the storm, noting that rather than panicking over the chaos around them, true safety is found by simply snuggling up close to Jesus.
Concluding the message, Albert urges the congregation to examine the areas of life where they struggle to surrender control—whether through stress over finances, busyness, or unrealistic expectations in relationships. He leaves listeners with two reflective questions on what it looks like to let go of control and lean closer to God, seamlessly transitioning the service into the celebration of Holy Communion where believers are reminded of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and presence in their midst.
Listen to the full version here.
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