The one thousand sermons of this archive are a record of the thoughtful steps in Richard Rhem's journey as it deepened in the 1980s and then continued to evolve from a conservative beginning until it led him to his ultimate understanding: an open mind and a warm heart must be grounded in the Way of Love, and must affirm the quest and insight of all faiths. On that foundation can be built a community that practices religion not as dogma but as dialogue, mutual enrichment and understanding.
"Dick Rhem is the best teacher-preacher I have ever heard in my life." Marcus Borg
The Secret of Dying Well
All Saints Day;
Pentecost XXI
II Timothy 4:6-8; Luke 23:44-49
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 02, 2003
Compassion, Forgiveness, Meaning
God, Freud and Fathers
Fathers' Day;
Pentecost IV
Psalm 103; Luke 11:1-13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 16, 2002
Compassionate God,
Religion as a human construct
Do We Need God To Be Good?
Lent V
Luke 6:36; Romans 12:2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 18, 2001
Compassion, Inclusive, Lent
The Freedom to Embrace
Pentecost VI
Hosea 11:1-9; Romans 11:25-36; Luke 23:32-34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 08, 2001
Exclusivism, nature of God, compassion
Religion: Its Use and Abuse
Pentecost XVI
Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 25:31-46
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 23, 2001
Nature of religion, Postmodern,
Compassion
Freedom and Commitment in a Global Society
Pentecost IV
Galatians 5:13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 02, 2000
Diversity, Inclusive, Global Community,
Compassion
Religion Made On Earth
Pentecost VII
Isaiah 44:18; Acts 17:27-28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 23, 2000
Religion as a Human Construct,Pluralism,
Compassion
The Experience of God in a Pitiless Universe
Pentecost XII
Job 38:2; Job 42:3; Luke 13:2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 27, 2000
Compassion, Justice, God
Action and Attitude Have Consequences
Midweek Lent
Luke 19:42
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 03, 1999
Lent Forgiveness, Nature of God,
Compassion
God, Can't You Do Something?
Lent IV
Mark 14:36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 14, 1999
Divine Intention, Justice, compassion,
Nature of God, Way of Jesus
Paul: Simply Wrong About History?
Eastertide IV
I Thessalonians 4:16-17; I Corinthians 15:22-24
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 25, 1999
Eschatology, Resurrection, Justice,
Compassion
Paul: A Larger God and a Grander Vision
Pentecost IV
Ephesians 2:14-16; 4:4-6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 13, 1999
Theology of Grace, Inclusive, Compassion
Jesus: The Grain of the Universe
Pentecost V
Genesis 1:2, 15-19; John 1:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 20, 1999
Mystery, Divine Intention, Way of Jesus,
Compassion
All Are Welcome Here
Pentecost VI
Isaiah 42:1-4; Luke 15:1-2, 25-32
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 27, 1999
Theology of Grace, Inclusive, Compassion
The Church Must Die or Die
Pentecost XI
Ezekiel 37:14; John 12:24, 43; 13:5
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 01, 1999
Authority, Spirit, Compassion
Keep Caring - It Matters
Pentecost XXII
Jeremiah 22:15-16; James 1:27; Matthew 25:40
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 17, 1999
Community of Faith, Compassion,
Theology of Grace
Insight, Courage and World Transformation
Christian Unity Sunday;
Epiphany IV
Acts 26:1-9; John 12:42
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 26, 1997
Epiphany, Transforming the World,
Compassion, Justice
That's the Answer; What's the Question?
Eastertide III
Acts 3:12, 16; Acts 4:12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 13, 1997
Inclusive Grace, Pluralism, Compassion
The End of Religion
Pentecost IV
Isaiah 58:6-7; Luke 10:25; Jeremiah 22:16
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 15, 1997
Nature of Religion, Compassion
Divine Improvisation - Human Wonder
Pentecost V
Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 8; John 1:1-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 22, 1997
Re-imagining the Faith, Compassion,
Nature of God
Religion: Has It a Future?
Pentecost XIX
Jeremiah 7: 1-7;, 11-15; Mark 13:1-2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 28, 1997
Nature of Religion, Compassion, Wonder,
Awareness, Story
Living Before the Face of God: The Social Dimension
Pentecost XXVI
Micah 6:8; Matthew 6:10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 16, 1997
Prophetic Voice, Nature of Religion,
Inclusive, Compassion
The News Is Too Good Not To Tell
Eastertide III
Isaiah 49:6; John 9:5, 25
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 21, 1996
Grace, Community, Compassion,
Followers of Jesus, Revelation
Our Little Systems Have Their Day
Eastertide V
Acts 7:51; John 4:21-24
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 05, 1996
Presence of God, Spirit, Community of
Compassion, Inclusive Grace
A Song of Quiet Trust
Thanksgiving Sunday;
Pentecost XXVI
Psalm 131; Matthew 11:25-30
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 24, 1996
Trust, Nature of God, Community of
Grace, Compassion
The Death of a Dream
Palm Sunday
Mark 15:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 09, 1995
Compassion, Inclusive, Palm Sunday,
Followers of Jesus
Life Broken and Poured Out
Advent I
Luke 15:51-52; I Corinthians 13:12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 03, 1995
Advent, Liturgical Calendar, Community
of Compassion, Incarnation, Emergence
Love's Vulnerability
Christmas Eve
Luke 2:12; I John 4:16; I Corinthians 13:4-8
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 24, 1995
Advent, Love at the Core of Reality,
Justice, Compassion
?Father, Forgive Them
Lent I
Luke 23:32-38
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 20, 1994
Forgiveness, Grace, Compassion of God,
Transforming Love
What It Takes To Make a Heretic
Pentecost VII
Job 6: 25-26
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 10, 1994
Wisdom Literature, Hebrew Scriptures,
God of Compassion, Nature of God
God of the Abandoned
Lent II
Mark 1:41
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 07, 1993
Religious Authority, God of Grace,
Community of Compassion, Inclusive
Abba
Pentecost IX
Psalm 103:1-22; Gal. 4:6; Mark 1:35
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 09, 1992
Parable, Mystery, Nature of God, Trust,
Compassion
God Loves People: To Be Human Is Enough
Pentecost XVIII
Psalm 103:14; Romans 5:8
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 11, 1992
Love of God, Forgiveness, Non-exclusive,
Compassion