Archive
Religion News Service: As Americans Disengage From Religion, A California Institution Encourages Questioning
Against the backdrop of decreasing religiosity in America, the Krikshnamurti Foundation of America (KFA) finds a growing following that encourages members to question and reach their own conclusions about their faith. Religion …
May 30, 2000: “Boomerangs Come Home Again” – Rev. Cecil Murray
Preaching to a young audience, Rev. Murray talks about the boomerang effect in terms of actions having consequences that come back to us: “What goes around comes around.” He also talks about …
May 23, 2004: “I’m Going to Trust in the Lord” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray emphasizes the importance of always trusting in God, through thick and thin. He reminds his congregation that you always praise the Lord, not only when times are …
May 19, 1996: “Playing Childish Games With God” – Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Cecil Murray addresses people who choose to be negative and always critical of others because of their own insecurity. During his 27 years as the pastor of First African …
May 16, 1999: “Old Jordan River is Chilly and Cold” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray speaks to his congregation about the coldness that can exist in the world: loneliness, rejection, etc. However, he assures us that nothing is wrong with being alone, …
May 12, 2001: “Man, That’s Your Mama!” — Rev. Cecil Murray
Reverend Murray discusses moms during this Mother’s Day sermon. He highlights the importance of honoring your mother by being a good son and appreciating what your mother taught you. Women should look …
May 2, 1992: “All God’s Children Got Shoes” – Rev. Cecil Murray
Preaching on Luke 15, Pastor Murray urges his congregation to be grateful for what they have, know that what they want isn’t always what’s best for them, and trust God to provide …
March 13, 1994: “Building Blocks and Stumbling Stones” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Pastor Murray compares Jesus to a rock, saying that Jesus is the most solid foundation you can have. However, he warns the audience that you can always take something …
March 5, 1995: “Shadow’d Beneath Thy Hands: Trust” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Cecil Murray encourages people to get in touch with God. “You’ve got to be crazy to be in God’s house on Sunday, and not trust God on Monday.” In …
March 2, 1997: “I’m Going to Tell God On You” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Cecil Murray warns his congregation that people will resent optimism and success. He says that as you move forward in life and break old habits, those who used to …
June 28, 1992: “I Get the Neck of the Chicken” –Rev. Cecil Murray
“There’s this grave-marker in the cemetery. It says, ‘She died of want of things,’ and right next door another grave-marker that says, “He died trying to give them to her.” Pastor Murray …
June 16, 1996: “Never Too Wise for God to Teach You” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Pastor Murray tells his congregation that “you never outgrow your need for God.” He encourages them to continually re-evaluate themselves, learn delayed gratification and to handle problems with the …
Larry King Now: Richard Flory on the Future of Faith in America
Despite the fact that the United States remains the most religious first world country in the world, religiosity is on the decline among Americans under 40. Joining a panel of faith leaders, …
July 14, 2002: “Eating Helpings of Fruit Daily” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray preaches about lust: lust for material possessions, each other, drinking, looking good, etc. He gives statistics about the Black community’s spending habits in comparison to other communities …
July 7, 2002: “First Things First” – Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray preaches about love, specifically loving God. He recites the commandment: “Thou shall love the lord thy God, and obey every one of God’s commands.” He tells his …
July 5, 1992: “Don’t Let Recognition Wreck You” – Rev. Cecil Murray
Pastor Murray encourages the members of his congregation to surround themselves with people and to not be so insular. He argues that having people around you teaches you how to give and …
January 7, 2001: “Dancing Before the Rainmaker” – Rev. Cecil Murray
“You will have worry, but listen to this: Don’t worry about your worry!” Cecil Murray addresses doubt in this sermon, affirming to his congregation that it is normal to have doubts, but …
Maggie Gobran: “Mama” to Thousands of Children in Egypt
Maggie Gobran is both a saint and a social entrepreneur. The daughter of an upper-middle-class family in Cairo’s Coptic Orthodox Christian community, Mama Maggie, as she is known, made the radical decision …
The Rwanda Library
The Rwanda Library is a collection of 100 videotaped interviews with orphans and widows who survived the Rwandan Genocide. CRCC’s co-founder Donald E. Miller and his wife, Lorna, conducted these interviews over …
February 22, 1993: “I Don’t Have Cable, Lord!” — Rev. Cecil Murray
“It ain’t the Lord that’s lost if you can’t find the Lord,” Pastor Murray says, making the point that if you don’t try to find Jesus, you won’t. He urges his congregation …