SWC Files

You cannot load SWC at runtime, this is like ZIP format using for combine your source libraries and assets. But you have option to compile your files into SWF and loading at runtime.

http://livedocs.adobe.com/flex/3/html/help.html?content=compilers_30.html

Do you mean dynamically load SWF ?

Yes,
For example how to load FONTs
http://www.mokisystems.com/blog/flash-as3-loading-fonts/

SWF files

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/mx/controls/SWFLoader.html

Images, CSS and other resource you can find here

http://livedocs.adobe.com/flex/3/html/help.html?content=styles_10.html

http://www.moyea.com/flash-video-tools/

Thanks for the responses!  I'm sure one(if not all) of the replies is the correct answer to my question, the trouble is, I'm too flex-ignorant to apply it.  I guess what I'm asking for is this.  What software/steps do I need to take in order to extract a viewable swf file from an existing swc file?  

If you want to extract SWC its easy.
1) Download and install Sothink SWF Decompiler http://www.sothink.com/product/flashdecompiler/
2) Change extension SWC to ZIP
3) Extract using WinZIP, WinRAR, unzip or any other archive tools
4) Open library.swf using Sothink SWF Decompiler

But you should understand this is hacking source code what is illegal.

I tried both winzip and winrar after changing the extension, and it would not let me open the file.  Am I doing something wrong?

Did you change extension to zip?

file.swc -> file.zip

yes, I did change it.

I never really got this worked out, but it's ok.  I would still like to assign the points, but I'm not sure what would be fair.  Any help would be appreciated.

I cannot understand why you have problem rename swc to zip extension and extract this file.

When I rename it, winrar gives me an error when trying to open it.  Winzip gives an equivalent error.