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
Seeing is Believing: When the Word Becomes Flesh
Ordination Service for Bill Freeman
Micah 6:608; I Corinthians 13; John 1:1-5, 14, 18
First Congregational United Church of Christ, Belding, Michigan
May 07, 2006
God is love, Divine Intention
The Emergence of the Sacred in Human Being
Muskegon Council for the Arts & Humanities Festival
Torrent House, Muskegon
October 04, 2004
New Paradigm, freedom, divine intention
Religion: Response To Mystery Emerging Naturally
Pentecost XII
Psalm 8; Acts 17:16-23; John 1:1-5, 14-18
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 31, 2003
Divine Intention, Natural Religion,
Divine Mystery
Looking For God in All the Wrong Places
Advent III
Isaiah 40:4,5; John 1:1-5, 14, 18; 14:8-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 14, 2003
Divine Intention, Nature of God,
Gospel of Thomas
The Deeper Truth of Incarnation
Advent IV
I John 1:1-4; 4:7-8; John 1:1-5, 14-18
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 22, 2002
Divine Intention, Incarnation, Way of Love
Why Jesus?
Lent VI
II Corinthians 4:6; John 1:15
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 25, 2001
Inclusiveness, Divine Intention,
Way of Jesus
An Invitation to Life
Easter Sunday
John 5:24
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 15, 2001
Resurrection, Divine Intention, Sacred,
Love
Creation Emerging: Tending the Garden
Earth Day;
Eastertide II
Genesis 1:1, 31; John 1:3
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 29, 2001
Trinitarian Nature of Religion, Earth Day,
Divine Intention
The Human Face of God
Eastertide III
John 1:18; Colossians 1:19
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 06, 2001
Incarnation, Divine Intention
Don't Do It For God's Sake
After 9-11;
Pentecost XV
Jeremiah 29:4-13; Ephesians 3:14-21
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 16, 2001
Non-violence, Divine Intention,
Human community
A Child
Advent IV
Hebrews 1:1-4; Luke 2:1-7
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 23, 2001
Advent, Divine Intention, Incarnation,
Pluralism
The Face and the Flesh
Lent I
John 6:51; II Corinthians 4:6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 12, 2000
Lent, Divine Intention, Way of Jesus,
Awareness
1 + 1 + 1 = 1 to the Higher Power
Trinity Sunday;
Pentecost II
John 1:1, 14, 18; John 14:9; II Corinthians 3:18
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 18, 2000
Jesus Movement, Divine Intention,
Father's Day, Spirit
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
I Really Can't (Choose Not To) Follow
Lent V
Mark 8:34; I Peter 2:21
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 21, 1999
Non-violence, Justice, Grace,
Divine Intention
Jesus: Episode or Epiphany?
Eastertide II
John 1:1, 14, 17; II Corinthians 4:6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 11, 1999
Cosmic evolution, Divine Intention,
Epiphany, Incarnation
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
Hope
Epiphany III
Jeremiah 32: 1-17; Romans 8: 18-31, 35-39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 25, 1998
Prophetic Voice, Hope, Divine Intention,
Emergent Evolution
Mystery Embodied
Trinity Sunday;
Pentecost III
Exodus 25:8; I John 4:16; John 1:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 21, 1998
Divine Intention; Embodiment of Love,
Love, Mystery
When Hope is Almost Gone
Advent III
Malachi 3:1; 4:2; Luke 1:78-79
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 14, 1997
Prophetic Voice, Justice, Inclusive Grace,
Divine Intention
To Bring Justice
Advent II
Isaiah 11:1-0; Luke 1:46-56
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 08, 1996
Advent, Justice, Eschatology, Way of Jesus
Divine Intention
To Bring Peace
Advent III
Micah 4:1-5; Luke 1:67-80
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 15, 1996
Peace, Global Community, Advent,
Shalom, Divine Intention, Inclusive
To Bring Joy
Advent IV
Isaiah 65:17-25; Luke 2:1-20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 22, 1996
Advent, Incarnation, Joy, Divine Intention,
God of Love
Dream On!
Easter
Acts 10:34-35
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 16, 1995
Easter, Divine Intention, Inclusive, Table
Fellowship, Community of Grace
Global Mission In a New Key
Pentecost VI
Isaiah 58: 6; Acts 1:4-8
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 11, 1993
Global Community, Divine Intention,
Inclusive, Shalom, Interdependence
Weaving Our Way Into God's Story
Pentecost XIX
Isaiah 55:11; Acts 11:17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 18, 1992
Scripture, Word of God, Prophetic,
Divine Intention, Trust
Creations' Goal: Sabbath Rest
Pentecost IX
Genesis 2:2-3; Isaiah 65:23, 25; Revelation 21:3; 22:2-4
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 24, 1988
Creator, Nature of God, Divine Intention,
Hebrew Scriptures, History of Israel, Sabbath,
Shalom, Grace
A Song of Serenity
Pentecost VI
Psalm 8:1
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 19, 1987
Psalms, Trust, Divine Intention, Tradition,
Stewardship
The Insight That Makes Praise Irrepressible
Pentecost X
Psalm 103:13-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 09, 1987
Psalms, Divine Intention, Forgiveness, Human
Nature, Creator God, Praise
Finding Our Destiny in God's Gracious Purpose
Pentecost XII
Esther 4:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 23, 1987
Nature of God, Sovereign Grace, Hebrew
Scriptures, Divine Intention, Salvation,
Wisdom Literature, Providence of God
His Light, Our Life
Christmastide II
John 1:4-5, 9; Isaiah 9:2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 05, 1986
Light, Christmastide, Mystery, Divine Intention, Creator, Jesus
Life Turned Upside Right
Lent III
Philippians 3:10-11
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 02, 1986
Lent, Transformation, Divine Intention,
Covenant of Grace, Community of Faith
Human Community in the Image of God
Peace Sunday;
Pentecost XXI
Phillipians 2:1-11
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 20, 1985
Creation, Image of God, Community of Grace,
Faith, Hebrew Scriptures, Divine Intention,
Covenant, Shalom
The Judgment That Aims at Salvation
Pentecost XXV
Genesis 6:5-6; 8:21; Isaiah 54:8
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 17, 1985
Hebrew Scriptures, Genesis, Judgment, Flood, Divine Intention, Noah, God's Radical Love
World Convulsion and the Exciting Vision of Faith
Psalm 33:1-5; 10-22; Revelation 15:1-4
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 05, 1981
Interdependence, Global Community, Faith,
Liberation, Peace, Freedom, Divine Intention
God, Cosmos, Grace and Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day
I Chronicles 29:9-18; Ephesians 1:1-10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 26, 1981
Gratitude, Worship, Thanksgiving, Grace of
God, Divine Intention, David