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
Easter Reflection
Eastertide
Luke 24:13-35
Lakeshore Interfaith Center, Ganges
April 19, 2009
Historical Jesus; Forgiveness; Easter
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
Forgiveness: Possible? Moral?
Midweek Lent
Luke 7:36-50
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 24, 1999
Lent, Nature of God, Forgiveness, Grace
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
Brazen to the End
Midweek Lent
Luke 23:39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 10, 1999
Lent, Forgiveness, Purgatory
Father, forgive them...
Midweek Lent
Luke 23:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 24, 1999
Grace, Lent, Forgiveness
Paul: Civil War; The Human Dilemma
Eastertide III
Acts 8:1, ;9:14; Romans 7:19, 24-25
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 18, 1999
Inclusive, Transcendence, Forgiveness,
Grace
Freedom
Palm Sunday
Luke 23:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 05, 1998
Way of Peace, Palm Sunday, Forgiveness,
Freedom
The Integrity of Saying ?No
Lent II
Psalm 8:6; Luke 23:39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 23, 1997
Lent, Forgiveness, Inclusive Grace
The Strength of Surrender
Lent III
Luke 23:42-43
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 02, 1997
Lent, Unconditional Love, Inclusive Grace,
Forgiveness
A Dream Embodied
Lent IV
Luke 23:34; I Peter 2:23
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 26, 1995
Nature of God, Community of Grace,
Forgiveness, Inclusive Grace
A Dreamer's Final Appeal
Lent V
Luke 19:41-42
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 02, 1995
Way of Jesus, Sermon on the Mount,
Forgiveness, Historical Jesus
?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
?Today...Paradise...
Lent II
Luke 23:32-43
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 27, 1994
Apocalyptic, Forgiveness, Transforming
Love
Creation: God's Risky Decision - Dream or Nightmare?
Pentecost XVIII
Lamentations 3: 21-23; Romans 5: 4-5; 8:24-25
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 25, 1994
History of Israel, Creator, Covenant,
Forgiveness, Faith
Suffering: Can It Be Vicarious?
Midweek Lent
Isaiah 53:1-11; Hebrews 12:1-2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 17, 1993
Hebrew Servant Poems, Forgiveness,
Nature of God, Grace
The God Who Forgives
Lent V
Psalm 130:4; Luke 23:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 28, 1993
Nature of God, Forgiveness, Transforming
Grace
Jesus Died Because of Our Sins, Not For Them
Palm Sunday
Zechariah 9:9-10; Luke 19: 28-48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 04, 1993
Inclusive Love, Grace, Nature of God,
Presence of God, Forgiveness, Atonement
Nothing to Pay
Pentecost XI
Luke 7:42
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 23, 1992
Nature of God, Parable, Transforming
Love, Inclusive, Forgiveness
God's Mercy for the Asking
Pentecost XII
Psalm 130:3-4; Luke 18:13-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 30, 1992
Parable, Nature of God, Mercy, Sin,
Forgiveness, Human Nature
All is Grace
Pentecost XIII
Jonah 4:2, 4, 11; Matthew 20: 15-16
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 06, 1992
Jonah, Forgiveness, God of Grace, Sin,
Unconditional Love
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
Hell?
Advent III
Isaiah 66:24; Luke 1:51-52
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 13, 1992
Hell, Justice, Forgiveness, Grace
God's Love: A ?Yes' That Conquers Our ?No'
Easter Sunday
I Corinthians 15:21, 22, 28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 15, 1990
Easter Sunday, Love, Universal Grace,
Forgiveness, Resurrection, Transformation
Freedom's Gift: Grace
Lent V
Isa 42:1-7; Luke 23:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 12, 1989
Lent, Forgiveness, Radical Grace of God, Way of Jesus, Non-exclusive, Nature of Religion
Universal Salvation
Lent III
Isaiah 49:6; John 12:32
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 06, 1988
Lent, Inclusive Grace, Universal Grace,
Judgment, Forgiveness
The ?Now' of the End
Advent III
II Corinthians 6:2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 11, 1988
Advent, Eschatology, Salvation, Forgiveness,
Unconditional Grace, Apostle Paul
Costly Obedience
Lent II
John 12:27-28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 15, 1987
Lent, Followers of Jesus, Suffering of Jesus,
Forgiveness, Andr_ Trocm_, Vision
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
March 02, 1986
Way of Jesus, Theology, Unconditional Love, Human Nature, Christian, Self-Esteem, Forgiveness
It is An Easter World
Eastertide III
I Corinthians 15:20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 13, 1986
Eastertide, Resurrection, Eschatology,
Sin, Forgiveness, Freedom, Hope, Shalom,
Community of Faith
I Wish I Could Start Over
Pentecost XII
II Corinthians 15:17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 10, 1986
Parable, Prodigal Son, Forgiveness, Nature of
God, Sin, Unconditional Love
God is Easy to Live With
Pentecost XV
Psalm 103:13-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 31, 1986
Psalms, Praise, Nature of God, Covenant,
God of Grace, Human Nature, Worship,
Forgiveness, Unconditional Grace
The God Who Forgives Us
Pentecost IX
Micah 7:18-19; Romans 11:33-36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 28, 1985
Micah, Hebrew Scriptures, Sin, Forgiveness,
Nature of God, Grace, Prophets, Trust,
Judgment, Transformation
God's Grace in Our Gloom
Reformation Sunday;
Pentecost XXII
II Corinthians 5: 19, 20; 6:2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 27, 1985
Reformation, Grace of God, Genesis,
Hebrew Scriptures, Sin, Forgiveness,
Freedom, Judgment, Creation
Why I Believe in Purgatory
Advent III
I Corinthians 3:14-15; Luke 12:47-48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 15, 1985
Advent, Purgatory, Judgment, Forgiveness,
Death, Eternity, Nature of God, Salvation,
God of Grace
The Place of Confession in the Christian Life
Psalm 32:1; I John 1:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 22, 1982
Transformation, Alcoholics Anonymous,
Grace, Confession, Forgiveness