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
Reflections on a Life
Funeral Meditation on the Liife of William A. Struck
I Corinthians 13:12
Grand Haven, Michigan
March 06, 2014
Funeral, Reformed Tradition, Spiritual Quest,
Love of God
Restless Mind and Quiet Heart: Quest and Rest
Freedom Village Service
Job 23: 1-10; Psalm 42: 1-5; John 3: 1-10; I John 4: 7-8, 12, 16
Freedom Village Chapel, Holland, MI
September 28, 2014
Faith Journey, Spiritual Quest, God is Love, Change
The LOVE That Loves Us
Meditation for Margaret Feldmann Kruizenga
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11, 13; I John 4:7-8, 12, 16, 19; John 1:1-5, 14 & 18
Freedom Village, Holland, Michigan
May 25, 2013
Love, Spiritual Quest, Sacred Mystery,
Family, Funeral
Re-imagining the Faith: A Theological Pilgrimage
December 12, 2012
Spiritual Quest, Reformed Theology, Authority of Scripture, Critical Thinking, Universal Grace, Orthodoxy, Nature of Religion, Sacred Mystery
Whose Truth Are You Living? By What Authority?
Lakeshore Interfaith Community
Matthew 7:18-29; Luke 19:45-20:8
Lakeshore Interfaith Center, Ganges
August 29, 2010
Spiritual Transformation
The Human Hunger for God
Unity Church, Douglas, MI
John 23:1-10; Psalm 2; Acts 17:22-28
Unity Church, Douglas
October 17, 2010
Presence of God; Spiritual Dimension
The Celebration of Life and Death in Community
All Saints Day
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Romans 14:1-9; John 14:1-3
Above & Beyond Banquet Hall, Norton Shores
October 31, 2010
Practice of Spiritual Faith;
Meditation; Ritual
The God We Cannot Flee
Lakeshore Interfaith
Gathering
Psalm 139
Lakeshore Interfaith Center, Ganges
October 19, 2008
Immanence of God, Nature of Spiritual Experience
Institution and Community
Epiphany VII
Psalm 84; Ephesians 3:14-21
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 23, 2003
Community of Faith, Spiritual Quest,
Openness
A Non-Election Year Sermon
Pentecost XXII
Jeremiah 7:1-7, 11; Luke 19:41-46
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 09, 2003
Spiritual Dimension of National Issues
Dropping the Salvation Fantasy
Pentecost VIII
Psalm 131; John 3:1-10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 14, 2002
Spiritual Quest,
Sacred Dimension of Reality
Where in the World Is God?
Epiphany VI
Isaiah 6:1; John 14:8
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 11, 2001
Postmodern, Immanence,
Spiritual Dimension of Reality
The Religious Question
Pentecost X
Micah 6:6-8; Luke 10:25-37
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 05, 2001
Nature of Religionm Spiritual Quest,
Pluralism
The Question That Will Not Go Away
Epiphany VII
Psalm 42:2; Job 23:3; John 3:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 20, 2000
Hunger for God, Spiritual Quest, Meaning
Religion As Prozac
Pentecost VIII
Matthew 11:28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 30, 2000
Spiritual Quest, Nature of Religion,
Community
Religion As Illusion
Pentecost IX
Isaiah 43:3; Ephesians 4:13; Matthew 6:3
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 06, 2000
Spiritual Quest, Nature of Religion,
Divine Presence
Are We Having Any Fun Yet?
Advent II
Amos 8:5; James 4:13-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 10, 2000
Awareness, Spiritual Dimension of Reality,
Meaning
The Nature and Function of Religion
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 13, 1999
Nature of Religion, Reimagining the Faith,
Spiritual Quest
Religion: Binding or Setting Free?
Pentecost IX
Isaiah 46:3-4; Ephesians 1:17-19; Matthew 23:15
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 18, 1999
Religion as a Human Construct, Ritual,
Presence
Baptized, Claimed and Called
Lent I
Isaiah 41:8-10; Luke 3:1-9, 21-22
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 01, 1998
Way of Jesus, Sacrifice, Spiritual Journey
The Church: Has It a Place in the Spiritual Life?
Pentecost XIX
Mark 7:8; I Corinthians 12:7; 12:27; 13:13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 11, 1998
Community of Faith, Prophetic Voice,
Nature of Religion, Spiritual Quest
The God We Forsake
Pentecost IX
Jeremiah 2:13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 28, 1996
Prophetic Voice, Spiritual Quest, Nature
of God, Trust, Hope, Meaning
Religion Can Be a Monkey On Your Back
Pentecost XI
Isaiah 46:4; Romans 14:23
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 11, 1996
Nature of Religion, Spiritual Quest,
Inclsive Love, Faithful God
Seeing is Believing
Epiphany II
II Kings 6:17; John 14:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 16, 1994
Epiphany, Spiritual Quest, Historical Jesus,
Critical Thinking, Spiritual Dimension,Grace
Our Hearts Are Restless Until...
Epiphany III
Acts 17:27; John 1:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 23, 1994
Epiphany, Love at the core of reality,
Spiritual Quest, Grace of God
Embraced by the Light
Easter Sunday
I Corinthians 15:54, 57; Psalms 116:8; Mark 16:6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 03, 1994
Easter, Spiritual Quest, Love at the Core
of Reality, Transformation
Baptism: A Sign of Belonging
Pentecost IV
Genesis 17:7, 13; Acts 2:39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 19, 1994
Pentecost, Baptism, Ritual, Worship,
Community of Faith, Faithful God
Eucharist: Memory, Presence, Hope
Pentecost V
Deuteronomy 16:1; I Corinthians 11:24; Mark 14:22, 24
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 26, 1994
Pentecost, Presence of God, Awareness,
Grace, Ritual
A Healthy Perspective - But Is This All There Is?
Pentecost XIV
Proverbs 8: 35-36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 28, 1994
Pentecost, Hebrew Scriptures, Wisdom
Literature, Spiritual Quest, Meaning
A Founding Story - A Visionary Leader and a People Set Free
Pentecost XXI
Genesis 27: 38; 32:9-10, 28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 16, 1994
History of Israel, Freedom, Trust, Hebrew
Scriptures Spiritual Journey, Sabbath
Birth the Way Home
Christmas Day
Micah 5:5; Luke 2:15
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 25, 1994
Christmas, Transforming Grace, Mystery,
Incarnation, Spiritual Quest
Credo
Epiphany IV
Acts 17:27-28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 31, 1993
Belief, Paul, Spiritual Quest, Inclusive,
Diversity
Not Converted - Just Amazed By Grace
Pentecost IV
Acts 9:5; Philippians 3:10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 27, 1993
Pentecost IV, Conversion, Reformation,
Spiritual Growth
Memories With A Future
Pentecost IX
Genesis 9:13; I Corinthians 11:24-25
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 01, 1993
Sacrament, Ritual
Worship: The Medium of Traditioning
Pentecost XVI
Psalm 137:4; I Corinthians 11:26
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 27, 1992
Worship, Traditioning, Nature of Scripture
History of Israel, Ritual
One Church, One World - Always in Transition
Pentecost XVII
Jeremiah 1:9-10; Acts 5: 39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 04, 1992
Ritual, Sacrament, Church, Tradition,
All Will Be Well
September 02, 1991
Authority of Scripture, Faith Community, Church, Universal Grace, Inclusive, Spiritual Journey
Introduction to Dr. Ira Progoff
Midweek Lecture
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 30, 1989
Progoff, Transformation, Hope, Spiritual
Journey, Symbol, Emergence, Insight, Spirit,
Interfaith, Consciousness, Nature of Religion,
Community of Faith, Global Community,
Revelation, Nature of Religion, Psychology
Paul: The Mellowing of a Fanatic
Pentecost XXVII
I Corinthians 9:22-23
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 23, 1986
Apostle Paul, Grace of God, Freedom, Gospel
of Grace, Ritual
Follow the Star: Trust the Vision
Epiphany Sunday
Matthew 2:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 06, 1985
Epiphany, Nativity, Magi, Mystery, Revelation
Spiritual Quest, Inclusive, Hope
Living from Commitment
Epiphany I
Luke 14: 27, 33
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 20, 1985
Spiritual Quest, Epiphany, Followers of Jesus,
Institutional Religion, Nature of Religion,
Transcendence, Worship, Community of Faith
The God Who is There for Us
Pentecost VII
Isaiah 57:15; Hebrews 4: 13, 16
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 14, 1985
Nature of God, Mystery, Spiritual Quest, God
of Grace, Immanence, Transcendence, Awe,
Meaning, Revelation
Memory and Hope in Our Cosmic Journey
Advent I
Isaiah 11:1, 2-5 ; Luke 2:29-32
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 29, 1981
Advent, Cosmos, Spiritual Journey, Grace,
Hope, Faith, Eschatology, Eternity