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
Love Now: Peace Then
Pentecost XXII
I Corinthians 13:13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 04, 2001
Detachment: Living Beyond Fear
Pentecost XXI
Habakkuk 1:1-5; 3:17-19; Phil. 4:10-13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 28, 2001
The Religious War: Where the Battle Rages
Pentecost XX
Luke 19:45-20:8
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 21, 2001
Who Needs a Good-For-Nothing Church?
Harvest Festival;
Pentecost XIX
Mark 2:13-17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 14, 2001
This Is the Time and This Is the Place
Pentecost XVIII
Matthew 5:13-16, 43-48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 07, 2001
Pentecost, Nature of Religion,
Exclusivism, Pluralism
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
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
The Presence of God: Intelligence and Attention
Pentecost XIII
I Kings 19:1-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 26, 2001
Postmodern, critical thinking,
Sacred Dimension of reality, Open Mind
God Naturally
Pentecost XII
Ezekiel 1:26; 2:1; Revelation 4:1-11
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 19, 2001
Signs of Community
Pentecost XI
Deuteronomy 6:4-12; 12:20-25; Mark 14:22-25
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 12, 2001
Sacraments, Baptism, Lord's Supper,
Community of Faith, Experience of Sacred
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 Gift of Life; The Life of Grace
Pentecost VIII
Luke 15
July 22, 2001
Pentecost, Prodigal Love, Transforming
Grace, Inclusive, Life, Miracle
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
Beyond National, Ethnicity and Creed
Independence Day Weekend;
Pentecost V
Psalm 33:10-17; Matthew 5:38-48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 01, 2001
Global Community, Non-violence,
Diversity, Inclusivism
God: The Feeling That Remains Where the Concept Fails
Celebration of 30 years of John Bryson as Director of Music and Fine Arts;
Trinity Sunday; Pentecost II
Isaiah 6:1; Revelation 1:17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 10, 2001
Liturgy, Experience of the sacred,
Trinity Sunday
As Intimate As Breathing
Pentecost
John 14:17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 03, 2001
Immanence, Divine Presence,
Grain of the Universe
Crucified! Violence in History
Memorial Day Weekend;
Eastertide VI
Psalm 33:5-17; John 11:45-53; Luke 23:32-34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 27, 2001
Non-violence, Global Community
Mary: Mother of God or Jewish Mother?
Mothers' Day
Eastertide IV
Luke 1:35; Mark 3:21; Acts 1:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 13, 2001
Community of Faith, Mothers' Day
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
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 Rise of Easter Faith
Eastertide I
Luke 24:31; I Cor. 15:8; Acts 26:13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 22, 2001
Resurrection, Transformation,
Nature of God
An Invitation to Life
Easter Sunday
John 5:24
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 15, 2001
Resurrection, Divine Intention, Sacred,
Love
The Moment of Truth
Maundy Thursday
Mark 14: 22-25, 32-36
April 12, 2001
Will We Ever Learn?
Palm Sunday
Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 33:10-22; Luke 19:28-48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 08, 2001
Way of Jesus, Prophetic Voice,
Non-violence
Love
Midweek Lenten Service
John 13:1b; I John 4:16b
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 04, 2001
Courage
Midweek Lenten Service
Hebrews 5:7; John 12:27
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 28, 2001
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
Compassion
Midweek Lenten Service
Hosea 11:8; Luke 23:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 21, 2001
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
My Truth
Midweek Lenten Service
Acts 15:1; Luke 20:2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 14, 2001
The Human Dilemma
Lent IV
Genesis 3:7; Matthew 9:36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 11, 2001
Living Within a True Myth
Lent II
Romans 5:18
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 25, 2001
The Experience of God
Lent I
Genesis 1:2; Psalm 139:7; Mark 1:10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 18, 2001
Consciousness, awareness,
Presence of God
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
World-view: Room for God?
Epiphany V
Psalm 15:5-ll; Luke 17:20-21
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 04, 2001
Divine Mystery, Cosmic Evolution,
Supernaturalism
Still the Light Shines Giving New Vision
Epiphany I
Acts 26:19; Matthew 2:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 07, 2001
Epiphany, Immanence,
Revelation of the Divine
Of Angels, Songs in the Night and Deep Human Intuition
New Years Eve
Luke 2:9, 30; Galatians 4:6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 31, 2000
Love at the Core of Reality, Incarnation
This Is Our Story
Christmas Eve
Micah 5:5; John 1:14, 18
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 24, 2000
Advent, Incarnation,Love at the Core of
Reality
The Lure of Love
Midweek Advent
I Corinthians 13:8; John 3:16
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 20, 2000
The Lost Cause of Christmas
Advent III
I Samuel 2:8; Luke 1:52-53
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 17, 2000
Advent, Awareness, Intention,
Incarnation
The Hopes and Fears of All the Years
Midweek Advent
Idaiah 7:4; Luke 1:13, 30
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 13, 2000
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
Beyond Duty to Delight
Thanksgiving Day
I Chronicles 29:9; 29:22; 9:7
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 23, 2000
The Root of Good Religion
Pentecost XXIV
Psalm 116:17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 19, 2000
Consciousness, Epiphany, Grace,
Nature of Religion
Humility That Opens to Wonder
Pentecost XXIII
Exodus 4:13; I Corinthians 15:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 12, 2000
Transcendence, Epiphany, Humility
In the Face of Mystery
All Saints Sunday;
Pentecost XXII
Job 23:3; Romans 8:38-39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 05, 2000
Mystery, Search for God,
Consciousness
An Intentional Commitment: A Matter of Heart
Pentecost XIX
II Corinthians 8:8
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 15, 2000
An Emerging Vision: What Matters?
Pentecost XVIII
Psalm 78:6-7; Jeremiah 29:11; James 4:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 08, 2000
Theology of Grace, Inclusive, Pluralism
A Charter of Freedom: A Matter of Choice
Pentecost XVII
Joshua 4:6; 24:15; I Corinthians 3: 21-23
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 01, 2000
The Gift of Sabbath
Pentecost XIII
Exodus 20:8; Deuteronomy 5:12, 15; Mark 2:27
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 03, 2000
Awareness, Community of Faith, Worship