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
• Cathedral of Christ the King
• Passion City Church
• Trinity Anglican Church
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Fr. Mike Schmitz

Fr. Mike opens with the story of country singer Chris Stapleton, who became a massive sensation seemingly overnight at the 2015 Country Music Awards after years of relative obscurity. However, Stapleton’s breakthrough was not an accident; it was the result of fourteen years of relentless writing, performing, and preparation. He notes that the sudden moment of public success did not form Stapleton, but simply revealed what had been forged during years of unseen dedication.

Connecting this theme to the Gospel, Fr. Mike explores the lawyer’s question to Jesus regarding which commandment is the greatest. For first-century Jews, the answer was universally known through the Shema: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength—essentially, to give God everything. Fr. Mike suggests that the deeper, more honest question we must ask ourselves is not just what the greatest commandment is, but whether we genuinely want to live it.

To bridge the gap between wanting to love God completely and actually doing it, Fr. Mike stresses that we cannot give God everything until we first learn to give Him the “first thing.” Drawing on the biblical concept of first-fruits, he explains that we practice this by offering God the priority in three key areas: prayer (giving Him our best time and attention), fasting (small daily sacrifices that train our hearts), and almsgiving (stewardship and generosity). These intentional habits shape our spiritual endurance long before moments of ultimate testing arrive.

Finally, citing the martyrdom of Rabbi Akiba, who recited the Shema while being tortured, Fr. Mike reiterates that spiritual greatness is never an “overnight success.” Akiba was able to give everything in his final moment because he had spent a lifetime giving God the first place every day. For those who struggle to desire this level of surrender, Fr. Mike offers practical encouragement from St. Teresa of Ávila: start wherever you are, even if it simply begins with praying for the desire to want to love God.

Listen to the full version here.

Cathedral of Christ The King

Father Jared begins by examining the familiar concept of the golden rule and its moral equivalent in the first reading from the Book of Exodus, where God instructs His people not to oppress aliens, widows, or orphans, reminding them of their own past in Egypt. He explains that these warnings and commandments function similarly to how we parent children—telling them not to touch hot stoves or run into traffic—as a way to teach them to avoid bad things. However, he highlights that the underlying motivation God reveals at the end of the passage is profound: “For I am compassionate.”

Transitioning to the Gospel reading where Jesus identifies the greatest commandments—to love God and love one another—Father Jared notes that Christ fulfills the law rather than just abolishing it, transforming negative prohibitions into a positive call to action. Because “love is a verb,” we are invited to do good rather than merely avoid evil. Just as humans naturally look for role models in marriage, preaching, or athletics to imitate, God invites us to look to Him and become imitators of Christ, who loves others even when they do not deserve it.

Drawing on the second reading from St. Paul to the Thessalonians, Father Jared notes how the early believers became models for others because the transformative gift of God’s love multiplied through them. He connects this spiritual imitation to the parish’s current stewardship theme, “A Cathedral of Hope,” emphasizing that those touched by God’s love are called to be beacons of hope within their local communities and spheres of influence. True discipleship requires moving beyond self-focused comfort to actively bring Christ’s light into the darkness through tangible service.

Finally, Father Jared highlights the active expressions of love already alive in the parish community, such as Eucharistic ministers serving the homebound and hospitals, catechists teaching the next generation, and volunteers supporting those in need through seasonal charity projects. He challenges the congregation to view these opportunities—and the broader call to stewardship of time, talent, and treasure—as an invitation to examine their own lives and ask where they can be beacons of hope. Concluding his message, he stresses that avoiding sin is not enough; Christ invites us to actively love because love is what ultimately multiplies hope and transforms the world.

Listen to the full version here.

Passion City Church

Brad Jones begins his message by turning to Psalm 84, emphasizing the importance of scripture in shaping our personal, worshipful vocabulary and grounding us as true worshippers rather than mere consumers. He unpacks the foundational imagery of the text, highlighting what it means to be a “doorkeeper” or “door holder” in the house of God. Rather than treating this concept as a simple volunteer sign-up, Jones frames it as a core mindset and lifestyle deeply embedded in the DNA of a believer.

Structuring his message around three probing questions, Jones first asks the congregation what they are truly longing for, noting that human souls were made by and for God, meaning our deepest desires can only be satisfied in Him. Second, he addresses whether believers genuinely recognize how blessed they are. Pointing to the truth that through Jesus Christ we are now the living temple of the Holy Spirit, he cautions against pride, comparison, and the constant human desire for “upgrades,” urging listeners to instead embrace godliness with contentment.

The third major question challenges whether believers are hoarding or ignoring God’s blessings. Jones uses the playful illustration of tailgating at a Chicago Bears game to contrast people who hoard their resources with those eager to share their abundance, reminding the church that we have been “blessed to bless” others. This posture of generosity directly inspires both heartfelt worship—giving praise back to God—and active service, echoing the psalmist’s declaration that it is better to be a doorkeeper in God’s house than to dwell in the temporary comfort of wickedness.

In closing, Jones applies these spiritual truths practically to the upcoming Passion Conferences in Dallas and Atlanta, inviting the congregation to lean in as “door holders” to help college students encounter Jesus. He offers a final invitation and prayer for anyone currently living in the “tents of the wicked” to leave behind worldly compromises and embrace the ultimate shelter, favor, and protection found in God.

Listen to the full version hre.

Trinity Anglican Church

Kris McDaniel begins his message by examining the familiar Gospel story of Martha and Mary from Luke 10, noting that this text is frequently misinterpreted through cultural or gender stereotypes rather than its true context. He explains that Bethany was a safe haven and home for Jesus, where he frequently retreated with his close friends—Martha, Mary, and Lazarus—to rest and take off his shoes away from the hostility of Jerusalem. Rather than framing Martha’s hospitality negatively or reducing Mary to a passive, doting observer, McDaniel urges the congregation to look deeper at the social boundaries being crossed.

Delving into the cultural dynamics of first-century Judaism, McDaniel points out that traditional society enforced strict separation between male and female spaces, with rabbis teaching exclusively to male disciples seated at their feet. By stepping out of the domestic kitchen and entering the traditional “man’s space” to sit at the feet of Jesus, Mary is deliberately crossing invisible cultural lines to act as a genuine disciple and learner. McDaniel emphasizes that Mary is not merely an example for women, but a powerful example for all believers on how to overcome the status quo, societal expectations, and personal resistance to pursue intentional spiritual growth.

Drawing parallels to modern life, McDaniel addresses the various forms of resistance—such as busyness, lack of time, and imposter syndrome—that often keep believers stuck in complacency and prevent them from pursuing a deeper life with God. True discipleship requires active intentionality and a willingness to disrupt stasis rather than coasting on spiritual autopilot. Citing authors like Pete Scazzero and Steven Pressfield, he highlights that we cannot give away what we do not possess, urging listeners to cultivate a growing, personal connection with Jesus rather than remaining in the comfortable shadows.

Finally, McDaniel connects these spiritual principles to Trinity’s strategic priorities and core commitments, such as creating unhurried spiritual space, building relational maturity, and embracing communal practices like a rule of life. He challenges the congregation to evaluate their own spiritual postures and daily practices, inviting them to consider what barriers God is calling them to cross. Ultimately, he encourages everyone to step out of passivity, embrace the companionship of the Holy Spirit who walks beside us, and intentionally position themselves at the feet of Jesus to learn and grow.

Listen to the full version here.

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