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’s homily, “Moments of Consequence,” contrasts the “big” moments of consequence—like the start of a great commitment (e.g., the wedding day, the big game, or the initial decision of faith) or a grand ending (e.g., retirement or the end of time)—with the crucial, overlooked middle. He opens with the movie Rocky and the story of a four-star general’s retirement who spoke of “waves of consequence” in surfing, moments that are significant for better or worse. However, Fr. Mike stresses that the most critical moments are not the ones with fanfare but the ones in the middle, the “grind,” where the initial excitement is gone and the outcome is distant.
The core invitation of the homily is to “remain faithful,” the first two words of St. Paul’s letter to Timothy, which summarizes how to navigate this difficult middle period. This is also echoed in the Gospel’s call to persist or persevere. Fr. Mike defines perseverance using its Latin roots: per (through) and severus (severity), meaning to persist through difficulty. He argues that while starting is tough, remaining faithful is often more difficult because it’s in the quiet middle that the enemy uses its only weapon against believers: discouragement.
Fr. Mike identifies three kinds of discouragement: by difficulty, by delay, and by defeat. Discouragement by difficulty should be met with the realization that “pressure is a privilege” and is a part of what we asked for in choosing this life. Discouragement by delay (lack of outcome) is actually God’s training method, as He allows us to encounter resistance so that our faith can grow, stating, “faith that has not been tested is faith that cannot be trusted.” Therefore, making concrete commitments allows us to experience resistance and become competent in our faith.
Finally, Fr. Mike addresses discouragement by defeat, the sense of “cut and paste confession” where we keep failing. He reminds the audience that real victory is not about never being knocked down, but about getting back up every time, just as Rocky did in the first movie (where he loses, but considers it a victory because he endured). He concludes by noting that perseverance is not just “white knuckling it” or grit, but is a gift of grace. The question of the Gospel, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” is answered with a resounding “Yes,” provided we do not succumb to discouragement, but persevere in the middle moments of consequence with God’s help.
Listen to the full version here.
Buckhead Church
This sermon, “A Reaction Makes Us A Reflection,” is the second part of Andy Stanley’s series “The Response of a Lifetime,” which introduces the concept of respondability—the “superpower” to choose a deliberate, measured response instead of merely reacting to life’s events. Stanley explains that we hold people in high respect based on their response to both adversity (not carrying bitterness, not striking back) and prosperity (being unaffected, generous, and not pretentious). The natural human tendency to react to negative or positive circumstances can lead to absorbing their characteristics, causing us to relinquish control. The choice for a measured response, however, allows us to pause and consider “what story do I ultimately want to tell.”
Stanley illustrates this principle by tracing the unfortunate journey of the Old Testament figure, Joseph, who was kidnapped by his brothers, sold into slavery, and eventually thrown into a dungeon on a false accusation. Joseph’s consistent, supernatural response to years of injustice was to act “as if the Lord was with him,” even when God seemed silent. His faith was crystallized when he refused the advances of Potiphar’s wife, famously declaring, “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” This shows his focus was on his relationship with God, not his immediate desire for freedom or fear of punishment, proving that suffering and hardship are not in contrast to the Christian faith but are experiences where one’s “respondability” is developed.
While imprisoned and forgotten by the chief cupbearer for two years, Joseph’s opportunity finally arrived when Pharaoh had a disturbing dream. Brought before the most powerful person in the world, Joseph demonstrated profound faith and courage. When Pharaoh credited him with the ability to interpret dreams, Joseph corrected him by saying, “I cannot do it, but Elohim… my God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” After interpreting the dream as a forecast of seven years of abundance followed by a devastating seven-year famine, Joseph boldly advised Pharaoh to appoint a wise man to store 20% of the grain crop to save the nation.
Impressed, Pharaoh immediately appointed Joseph as the second most powerful man in Egypt. Joseph’s diligence during the years of abundance ensured Egypt’s survival during the famine, leading to him essentially rescuing the nation’s economy. Stanley concludes by setting the stage for the next sermon, arguing that the ultimate test of Joseph’s superpower is not the adversity he faced, but the prosperity and power he attained. He challenges the audience to consider how they would respond in a position of supreme influence, urging them to respond to all of life’s circumstances—good or bad—as individuals confident that God is with them.
Listen to the full version here.
Cathedral of Christ The King
Fr. Frank McNamee’s homily, titled “Will he find faith on earth?” after the Gospel of the Persistent Widow, centers on the necessity of perseverance in the life of a Christian. He shifts the focus from God’s unwavering faithfulness to the reciprocal question of our faithfulness, acknowledging that God always answers prayers, but asking if we remain persistent enough to receive the response. The homily posits that faith is not a fleeting feeling but belongs to obedience, which is truly tested not when God’s presence feels near, but during the “desert experience” when His hand seems absent and the map of life is unclear. It is in these moments of silence and waiting that true fidelity is expressed.
The homily emphasizes the heightened challenge of maintaining this fidelity in the age of impatience. Fr. McNamee notes that our culture demands instant gratification—instant messages, instant news, and instant results—tempting us to treat God the same way and assume He is not listening if a response is not immediate. However, faith calls us to a different rhythm, reminding us that God’s work unfolds through the slow process of grace, not the quick pace of human culture. Enduring faith requires resisting the temptation to stop praying when trials come and instead trusting God’s heart even when we cannot yet trace the work of His hand in our lives.
Fr. McNamee frames the consistent effort of faith as a spiritual wrestle, a necessary honesty that requires us to bring our struggles, doubts, and weaknesses before God, much like Jacob wrestled at the river. He presents the Gospel’s Persistent Widow as a model for this spiritual endurance: she had no social standing, but through constant prayer and courageous endurance, she persistently kept knocking, refusing to accept injustice. Her unwavering action is an act of fidelity and vigilance that God seeks in His disciples, demonstrating faith that does not quit but trusts that God will ultimately secure the rights of His chosen ones.
In conclusion, the Lord’s final question, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” is not meant to discourage us but to inspire vigilance. We are called to pray with persistence even when it is inconvenient or “when there is a cost,” patiently waiting for the great coming of the Lord. Fr. McNamee urges the faithful to stand ready and erect, letting their faith remain steadfast within the challenges and obstacles they encounter, knowing that it is in God’s time and with His help that they will persevere until the glorious coming.
Listen to the full version here.
Passion City Church
Grant Partrick’s sermon, “Worshiping Your Way Through The Wilderness,” is built upon Psalm 63, which he identifies as David’s reflection while fleeing his son Absalom in the complex and heartbreaking Judean wilderness. The core premise is that “what we are desperate for, we give our attention to,” and David’s psalm demonstrates a faith that remains confident in God despite catastrophic circumstances. By reading the psalm, Partrick argues that the path through any personal desert is not found in changing the circumstances, but in cultivating a soul that remains fixed on God as its highest priority.
The first essential characteristic of this desperate faith is that it thirsts for God. David begins by declaring, “You God are my God,” establishing a personal, covenant relationship as the stable rock beneath his shifting emotional quicksand. This dedication is then shown through the priority of earnest seeking—pursuing God early in the morning before any other activity of the day. Significantly, David makes no requests in the entire psalm, instead stating, “I thirst for you… my whole being longs for you.” This desperate desire demonstrates that God Himself is the ultimate prize, not merely a backup plan or an ATM to solve immediate problems.
Desperate faith also treasures and trusts God. David recalls past experiences in the “sanctuary” to fuel his present endurance, knowing that the memory of God’s power gives strength in the current trial. Because he realizes God’s love is “better than life” and all of the world’s advantages, his soul is “fully satisfied as with the richest of foods” even in a parched land. This deep satisfaction stems from trusting that the same God who came through before will come through again. Partrick notes that David’s assurance is a persistent, persistent faith—a spiritual wrestle that remembers God’s past faithfulness (“I remember you”) to maintain present confidence (“you are my help now”).
Finally, this faith maintains its security by actively clinging to God while resting in His strength. Our act of clinging is an act of obedience, but our true security comes from His right hand upholding us (His omnipotence). The sermon concludes by urging believers to move from wallowing to worship, using the active verbs of the psalm—seek, thirst, praise, cling, and rejoice—as a practical checklist for fueling faith. Partrick reminds the congregation that Jesus is the living water and the bread of life available today to satisfy every longing and carry them through the darkest desert.
Listen to the full version here.
Trinity Anglican Church
Nate Smith’s sermon focuses on Luke 18:1-8, the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge. Smith establishes the unusual structure of this parable, noting it begins with Jesus’s explanation: the audience “ought always to pray and not lose heart”. The core message employs a “how much more” argument—if an unrighteous judge grants justice merely to be rid of a bothering widow, how much more will a righteous and loving God respond to the pleas of His chosen people. The sermon is framed by the context of Jesus’s discussion of His Second Coming, implying the need for sustained faith and prayer as the end times approach, which is highlighted by Jesus’s concluding question about finding faith on earth.
The first major theme of the sermon is the nature of desperate, personal prayer. Smith explains that the widow, being alone and powerless, was driven by desperation rather than religious discipline because she had “no other option”. This desperation is the model for the kind of prayer Jesus seeks—not vague, inconsequential requests, but intensely personal appeals for things we cannot live without and that only God can accomplish, such as physical healing from incurable diseases or deliverance from destructive behaviors. The true antagonist in the parable is not the judge, but the “adversary” (Satan) who uses deception and discouragement, making the prayer for justice and deliverance a key act of spiritual warfare.
Smith highlights the profound contrast between the two main figures. Unlike the unjust judge who is impatient, self-serving, and only grants justice to avoid a “black eye”, God is righteous, loving, and patient. If God seems to delay His answer, it should not be confused with neglect. Smith emphasizes that the “purpose of time is love,” and God’s perceived slowness is actually His “speed of love,” which allows for the time necessary to foster a deeper relationship with His people. The ultimate, complete answer to our desperate prayers is tied to Christ’s Second Coming, when true and complete justice will be given for all.
The final part of the sermon focuses on faith, which Smith considers a “supreme act of faith”, noting that it’s impossible to sustain a life of prayer without it. He uses the analogy of the thyroid gland to describe faith as a hidden but essential virtue. Just as a malfunctioning thyroid leads to physical symptoms (like low energy and cold intolerance), a waning faith results in “spiritual hypothyroidism,” characterized by a cold heart toward God, accumulation of worries, and decreased resistance to temptation. Smith concludes by stating that faith is a free gift received through the Holy Spirit, but it is strengthened through the reciprocal cycle of personal, desperate prayer, which equips believers to persevere and ensure the Son of Man will indeed “find faith on earth” upon His return.
Listen to the full version here.
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