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 Fairy Tale Is True
Christmastide I
Luke 2:7; Revelation 12:5
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 28, 1997
Story, Apocalyptic, Trust, All Will Be Well
Too Good to Be True
Advent IV
Luke 1:47; Isaiah 7:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 21, 1997
Community of Grace, Shalom, Justice
When Hope is Almost Gone
Advent III
Malachi 3:1; 4:2; Luke 1:78-79
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 14, 1997
Prophetic Voice, Justice, Inclusive Grace,
Divine Intention
An Ancient Dreamer
Advent II
Isaiah 1:9; John 1:1-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
December 07, 1997
Prophetic Voice, Shalom, Way of Jesus,
Transformation
Advent Prayer 1997
Advent I
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 30, 1997
Advent, Prayer, Eucharist
The Irony of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Sunday
Deuteronomy 8:12-14; Psalm 115:6, 7, 17
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 27, 1997
Living Before the Face of God: Healed and Whole
Pentecost XXVII
Habakkuk 3:18; Luke 19:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 23, 1997
Living Before the Face of God: The Social Dimension
Pentecost XXVI
Micah 6:8; Matthew 6:10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 16, 1997
Prophetic Voice, Nature of Religion,
Inclusive, Compassion
Living Before the Face of God: The Personal Dimension
Pentecost XXV
Genesis 3:10; Psalm 130:1, 4; Psalm 132:1; Phil. 3:12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 09, 1997
Faith Journey, Grace, History of Church,
Re-imagining the Faith
Re-Imagining God: Why?
Pentecost XXIII
Isaiah 49:15; Matthew 7:10-11
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 26, 1997
The God We Never Knew
Pentecost XXI
Genesis 1:1; Psalm 139:7; Acts 17:28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 12, 1997
A Simpler Way
Pentecost XX
John 4:23-24
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 05, 1997
Inclusive, Follower of Jesus, Nature of
Religion, Spirit, Awareness
Religion: Has It a Future?
Pentecost XIX
Jeremiah 7: 1-7;, 11-15; Mark 13:1-2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 28, 1997
Nature of Religion, Compassion, Wonder,
Awareness, Story
Shall the Fundamentalists Win?
Pentecost XVIII
Acts 5:38-39; Matthew 5:17-21
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 21, 1997
Inclusive, Worldview, Fundamentalism,
Re-imagining the Faith, Community of Faith
The Church: Who Needs It?
Pentecost XIV
Matthew 15:13-23; Ephesians 4:1-7; 11-16
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 24, 1997
Religion as a Human Construct, Myster,
Way of Jesus, Servanthood
Is Christianity Dying?
Pentecost XII
Habakkuk 1:1-5; 3:17-19; Luke 3:1-9; 19:37-38
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 10, 1997
Nature of Religion, Religion as a Human
Construct, Pluralism, Mystery
Why Is There So Much Anger in Religion?
Pentecost XI
Jonah 3,4; James 1:17-27; Luke 15:25-32
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 03, 1997
Nature of Religion, Inclusive,
Transforming Love, Meaning
Is Religion Really Escape from Life?
Pentecost X
Jeremiah 45:5; John 12:20-28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 27, 1997
Nature of Religion, Suffering,
Transformative Love
What Lies Beyond Death's Veil?
Pentecost IX
Romans 8:19; Luke 20:38
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 20, 1997
Nature of Religion, Consciousness,
Emergence
The Providence of God: Is It Wishful Thinking?
Pentecost VIII
Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 8:28-39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 13, 1997
Mystery, Nature of Religion, Nature of
God, Shalom
Divine Improvisation - Human Wonder
Pentecost V
Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 8; John 1:1-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 22, 1997
Re-imagining the Faith, Compassion,
Nature of God
The End of Religion
Pentecost IV
Isaiah 58:6-7; Luke 10:25; Jeremiah 22:16
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 15, 1997
Nature of Religion, Compassion
Love Enfleshed
Pentecost III
Hosea 11:8; I John 4:16; Luke 10:27
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 08, 1997
Mystery, Nature of God, Transforming
Love
Prayer for the World
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 01, 1997
Prayer, World
Mystery's Face and Flow
Trinity Sunday
Job 23:3; II Corinthians 4:6; John 14:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 25, 1997
Nature of God, Religious Quest, Mystery,
Justice, Love
Spirit, Spirit: A Cosmic Drama
Pentecost
Genesis 1:2; John 3:6
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 18, 1997
Spirit of God, Consciousness, Cosmic
Evolution, Community, Trust
What Defines a Family?
Mother's Day; Ascension
Sunday; Eastertide VII
Mark 3:35; Acts 1:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 11, 1997
Mother's Day, Community of Faith
Re-Tell Me the Old, Old Story
Eastertide VI
Acts 17:16-34; Mark 2:18-28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 04, 1997
Meaning, Re-Imagining the Faith, Divine
Intention, Global Community
That's the Answer; What's the Question?
Eastertide III
Acts 3:12, 16; Acts 4:12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 13, 1997
Inclusive Grace, Pluralism, Compassion
Good News of Cosmic Dimension
Eastertide II
I Corinthians 15:22; Matthew 28:19
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 06, 1997
Inclusive, Universal Grace,
Global Community, Eastertide
Disciples at Second Hand
Easter Sunday
Luke 24:30-31
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 30, 1997
Easter, Presence of Spirit of God, Grace,
All Will Be Well
Were You There??
Maundy Thursday
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 27, 1997
Endless Love
Palm Sunday
Matthew 27:55-56; Matthew 27:61
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 23, 1997
Palm Sunday, Prodigal Love
Anguish, Not Anger
Midweek Lenten Service
Luke 19:41-48
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 19, 1997
Too Little, Too Late
Lent V
John 12:41-42; John 19:38-39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 16, 1997
Sacrifice, Followers of Jesus
Soldiers at Play - The Human Shadow-side
Midweek Lenten Service
Luke 19:45-20:8; Jeremiah 7:1-7; Isaiah 42:1-4
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 12, 1997
Love Hurts
Lent IV
Luke 2:35; John 19:25-27
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 09, 1997
Community of Faith, Unconditional Love
Don't Cry For Me!
Midweek Lenten Service
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 05, 1997
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
Good Question, Pilate
Midweek Lenten Service
John 18:23-19:16
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 26, 1997
?
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
Not So Cocky, Peter
Midweek Lenten Service
Mark 8:27-9:1, 14:22-31, 66-72
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 19, 1997
Look at the Faces Around the Table
Lent I
Luke 5:29
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 16, 1997
Lent, Presence of God, Inclusive Love,
Community of Grace
Insight, Courage and World Transformation
Christian Unity Sunday;
Epiphany IV
Acts 26:1-9; John 12:42
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 26, 1997
Epiphany, Transforming the World,
Compassion, Justice
Beyond Reason: Discovery in Worship and Mission
Epiphany III
Isaiah 49:6b; John 1:9
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 19, 1997
Community of Grace, Pluralism, Inclusive,
Epiphany
Dare to Follow the Light
Epiphany I
Isaiah 60:6-7; Ephesians 3:9; Matthew 2:2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 05, 1997
Epiphany, Universal Grace, Light of God,
Pluralism