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
Life Broken and Poured Out
Advent I
I John 4:7-8, 12, 16, 19; Luke 1:46-55
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 30, 2003
Advent
Gratitude: Its Source and Its Fruit
Thanksgiving Day
Isaiah 58:12; I Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19; Luke 12:13-21
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 27, 2003
Thanksgiving
A Little Less Certainty and a Lot More Love
Pentecost XXIV
II Kings; I Corinthians 13; Luke 9:46-56
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 23, 2003
Inclusivism, God is Love
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
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
Credo: Personal and Community
Pentecost XIX
Deuteronomy 4:4-9; Ephesians 4:1-6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 19, 2003
Fundamental Trust, Community,
Non-authoritarian
For the Joy Of It All
Harvestfest;
Pentecost XVIII
I Chronicles 29:10-13, 22; II Corinthians 8:1-4
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 12, 2003
Community of Faith
Prayer of Gratitude for Community
Pentecost XVII
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 05, 2003
Prayer, Community of Grace
A Promise Full of Potential: All Things Are Yours!
Pentecost XV
Jeremiah 29:4-14; I Corinthians 3:1-15, 21-23
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 21, 2003
Community of Faith
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
A Vision of Shalom in a Random Universe
Pentecost X
Isaiah 2:104; I Corinthians 15:20-28; Matthew 5:38-48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 17, 2003
When God Will Be Satisfied
Pentecost IX
Psalm 51: Luke 23:32-38
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 10, 2003
Religious Authority,
Transformed Consciousness
Jesus: Episode or Epiphany?
Pentecost VIII
John 1:1, 14, 17; II Corinthians 4:6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 03, 2003
Emergence, Epiphany
Crossing the Rubicon
Pentecost VI
Acts 15:1-5; Luke 19:45-20:8
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 20, 2003
Have the Fundamentalists Won?
Pentecost V
Acts 5:27-39; Matthew 5:17-20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 13, 2003
My Country, Right or Wrong...
Pentecost IV
I Kings 22:1-28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 06, 2003
Prophetic Voice, Global Community
The Dangerous Memory of Jesus
Pentecost III
I Corinthians 11:23-26
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 29, 2003
The Way of Jesus, Radical Transformation
Morning Prayer
Pentecost II
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 22, 2003
Prayer, Community, Presence, Mystery, Faith, Awareness, Trust, Global Community
Touched By Mystery, Tested by Experience
Pentecost
Acts 10:34-48; John 4:16-24
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 08, 2003
Community of Grace, Divine Mystery
What Is Worth Dying For?
Memorial Day Weekend;
Eastertide VI
Micah 4:1-5; Philippians 2:1-11; Luke 24:50-53
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 25, 2003
Memorial Day, The Way of Peace
And the Greatest of These is...
Mothers' Day;
Eastertide IV
I Corinthians 13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 11, 2003
Love as seeing the sacred in others,
Mothers' Day
Living With Intentionality
Confirmation Sunday;
Eastertide III
Psalm 16:7-11; Luke 12:41-48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 04, 2003
Awareness, Intentionality,
Global Community
The Impossible Possibility
Easter Sunday
Luke 1:37; Romans 4:18
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 20, 2003
Way of Jesus, Transformation
Thy Will Be Done?
Maundy Thursday
Ephesians 1:1-14; Luke 22:39-46
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 17, 2003
I Need You
Midweek Lent
Luke 22:39-53
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 09, 2003
Why Jesus in a World of Religion
Midweek Lent
II Corinthians 4:1-6; John 1:1-5, 14-18; 14:8-9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 02, 2003
People of the Way
Lent IV
Acts 9:1-2; Matthew 16:21-26
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 30, 2003
Way of Peace, Non-violence
If We Have Love...
Midweek Lent
I John 4:7-8, 12, 15, 19-21; John 13:1-17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 26, 2003
Steely Resolve and Gentle Spirit
Lent III
Isaiah 42:1-9; Luke 9:51-62
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 23, 2003
God and the Moral Life
Midweek Lent
Romans 12:1-2, 9-21; Luke 6:27-36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 19, 2003
The Question of God and Human Meaning
Midweek Lent
Micah 7:18-20; I John 4:7-8, 12, 15, 19; John 1:1-5, 14-18; 12:20-26
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 12, 2003
Memory and Solidarity
Lent I
Acts 9:1-2; Matthew 16:21-26
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 09, 2003
Non-violence, Sermon on the Mount
Meeting Our Mortality
Ash Wednesday
Genesis 3:1-3; I Corinthians 15:2-28; John 19:25-30
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 05, 2003
Honestly Human
Epiphany VIII
Romans 7:14-25; Mark 2:18-28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 02, 2003
Celebration of Life, Nature of Religion
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
The Source of Authority
Epiphany VI
Mark 11:15-19, 27-33
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 16, 2003
In a World in Peril
Epiphany V
Isaiah 43:1-3; Matthew 14:22-32
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 09, 2003
Nature of Religion, Quest for Meaning
When the Radiance Breaks Through
Feast of Epiphany
Isaiah 60:1-7; Matthew 2:1-12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 05, 2003
Universal Religious Quest,
Transformation of Consciousness
Does Love Talk Change Anything?
Christmastide
Luke 2:1-20; John 3:1-10, 16-17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 29, 2002
Vulnerable
Christmas Eve
Luke 2:1-14; 23:32-38
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 24, 2002
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
The Extension of the Incarnation
Midweek Advent
I John 4:7-8, 12-16, 19; Psalm 88; John 1:1-5, 14-18
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 18, 2002
The Risk of Love
Advent III
Philippians 2:1-11; Luke 2:8-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 15, 2002
Jesus: Intervention or Emanation?
Midweek Advent
Isaiah 9:2-7; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:1, 12-16
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 11, 2002
Advent Prayer, 2002
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 01, 2002
Prayer, Advent
Icon of God from Cradle to Grave
Advent I
Hebrews 1:1-4; Luke 2:1-7; 23:32-38
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 01, 2002
Incarnation, Jesus as image of God
Grace - The Root of Gratitude
Thanksgiving Day
Deuteronomy 8:11-20; Psalm 116
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 28, 2002
The Holy Family - God's Elect?
Pentecost XXVII
Genesis 27:1-4, 30-45; Romans 9:1-18
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 24, 2002
Abrahamic Faiths, Non-exclusive,
Universal Grace, Pluralism, Interfaith
Abraham: One God, Three Names
Pentecost XXVI
Genesis 12:1-3; 21:8-21; Romans 9:1-8; 11:25-36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 17, 2002
Religious Pluralism, Abrahamic Faiths
Death - The Last Enemy
All Saints Day;
Pentecost XXIV
Genesis 3:1-3; I Corinthians 15:20-26
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 03, 2002