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
The Promise of Chaos
New Years Eve
Lamentations 3:22-23; Romans 11:33-36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 31, 1992
Joy!
Christmastide I
Isaiah 9:3; Luke 2:10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 27, 1992
What Are You Afraid Of?
Advent IV
I John 4:18; Luke 1:30
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 20, 1992
Fear, Way of Love, Judgment, Trust
Hell?
Advent III
Isaiah 66:24; Luke 1:51-52
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 13, 1992
Hell, Justice, Forgiveness, Grace
Life After Life?
Advent II
Psalm 16:11; I Thessalonians 4:17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 06, 1992
Messiah, Anointed One, Eschatology,
Jesus, Nature of Scriptures
Do You Really Think He Is Going To Come?
Advent I
Acts 3: 11-21; Revelation 22:8-12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 29, 1992
Advent, Revelation, Spirit of God,
Community of Faith, Grace
Worship: Therapy for the Soul
Thanksgiving Day
Psalm 73:16-17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 26, 1992
John the Baptist: Wrath - Sometimes Necessary: Never the Solution
Pentecost XXIV
Matthew 11:3, 14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 22, 1992
John the Baptist, Prophetic, Judgment,
God's Grace, Transforming Love
Samuel: Culture Wars - Does God Take Sides?
Pentecost XXIII
I Samuel 8: 19-20; Matthew 5:45
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 15, 1992
Samuel, History of Israel, Community,
Diversity, Justice
Moses: Somebody Has To Believe!
Pentecost XXII
Exodus 3:11; Hebrews 11:1
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 08, 1992
Moses, Community of Faith, Interfaith,
Institutional Religion, Trust
Future Edge - Tradition: Instrument of Continuity and Change
Pentecost XX
Isaiah 43:18-19; Luke 2:34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 25, 1992
Tradition, Reformation, History of the
Church, Re-imagining the Faith
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
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
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
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
Faith-Full Generations
Pentecost XV
Psalm 78: 5-7; II Timothy 1:5
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 20, 1992
Community of Faith, Meaning, Bible,
Unconditional Love, Nature of Faith
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'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
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
Prodigal Love
Pentecost X
Luke 15:20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 16, 1992
Nature of God, Parable, Unconditional
Love, Transforming Grace
Abba
Pentecost IX
Psalm 103:1-22; Gal. 4:6; Mark 1:35
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 09, 1992
Parable, Mystery, Nature of God, Trust,
Compassion
Spinner of Chaos
Pentecost VIII
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 02, 1992
The Church: Sign of the Kingdom: Community of Shalom
Pentecost VII
Isaiah 65:25; Ephesians 3:9-10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 26, 1992
Observing Sabbath; Celebrating Grace and Freedom
Pentecost VI
Deuteronomy 5:15; Colossians 2:20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 19, 1992
Sabbath, Creation, Immanence, Worship,
Easter, Sacrament, Love
Observing Sabbath: Sanctifying Creation
Pentecost V
Exodus 20:8; Hebrews 4:9-10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 12, 1992
The Word: A Means of Grace: Story as Sacrament
Pentecost IV
Isaiah 55:11; Acts 10:44
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 05, 1992
Creation, Panentheism, Sacramental
Model of Reality, Wonder
Eucharist: A Means of Grace; A Sign of Presence
Pentecost III
Exodus 13:8; Mark 14:23-24
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 28, 1992
Passover, Jesus' Death, Eucharist, Grace,
Sacrament, Worship
A Means of Grace; A Sign of Belonging
Pentecost II
Genesis 17:11; Acts 2:38-39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 21, 1992
Sacrament, Baptism, Universal Grace,
Community of Faith
Doxology
Trinity Sunday
John 20:21-22; Rev. 5:6; Rev. 5:13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 14, 1992
The Wind Beneath Your Wings
Pentecost
Gen. 1:2; Rom. 8:26-27; John 14:2-3, 12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 07, 1992
Someone To Watch Over You
EastertideVII
Romans 8:31-34
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 31, 1992
Out of This World - Dwelling In You
Eastertide VI
John 20:17; Col. 1:19-20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 24, 1992
Truly Human and Truly God?
Eastertide V
John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 1:3, 5:8-9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 17, 1992
E.T.?
Eastertide IV
Acts 3:19-22; Phil. 2:6-7, 9-11
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 10, 1992
Awestruck and Stammering
Eastertide III
Mark 16:8; Acts 2:36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 03, 1992
How a Man Became God
Eastertide II
Romans 1:1-17; John 20:24-31
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 26, 1992
The Dawn of a New World
Easter Sunday
Ps. 16:11; Matt. 28:7; Col. 1:19-20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 19, 1992
Night
Maundy Thursday.
John 13:30
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 16, 1992
Forsaken
Palm Sunday
Matthew 27:46
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 12, 1992
Portrait of the Crucified Painted In His Words: "Into Thy Hands"
Midweek Lent
Luke 23:46
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 08, 1992
No Exit
Lent V
Matthew 6:42
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 05, 1992
Portrait of the Crucified Painted in His Words: "It Is Finished"
Midweek Lent
John 19:30; Romans 5:19
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 01, 1992
I Don't Know How To Love Him
Lent IV
Luke 8:2; Matthew 27:61
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 29, 1992
Gospels, Historical Jesus, Way of Jesus,
Nature of Scripture, , Transforming Love
Portrait of the Crucified Painted By His Words: "I Thirst"
Midweek Lent
John 19:28; Hebrews 2:18
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 25, 1992
World Flight or World Fight?
Lent III
John 17:15; 18:36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 22, 1992
Tough Teaching: Are You Serious, Jesus?
Lent II
Matthew 5:44, 48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 15, 1992
Do You Get the Picture?
Lent I
John 13:15
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 08, 1992
Portrait of the Crucified Painted in His Words: "Dying Into Life"
Ash Wednesday
John 12:27
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 04, 1992
His Way of Compassion With Human Disease
Epiphany VIII
Matthew 9:36
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 01, 1992
His Way of Freedom With Religious Tradition
Epiphany VII
Mark 2:22
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 23, 1992