“I Have a Dream” is a sermon I preached at Preakness Valley United Reformed Church in Wayne, NJ, on April 22, 2012. The text is Romans 15:14-33. Here is the MP3 audio (30:26, 27.8MB), and an excerpt:

Paul’s plan was to go to Judea, then to Rome, and then go on to Spain. But there’s no evidence that Paul ever got to Spain. In the book of Acts we read of Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem in chapter 21, and from that point on he is a prisoner, first in Judea, then during the long, shipwrecked journey from Jerusalem to Rome via Cyprus and Malta, and finally under house-arrest in Rome. According to church tradition, Paul was eventually executed in Rome for his faith.

So, he never made his “mission trip” for which he sent out this grand, marvelous support letter! Looking back, we can see that God in his Providence allowed Paul to dream of going to Spain, so that he would write the book of Romans, which is Paul’s great masterpiece. Paul had his grand plans for God, but God’s plans were even more grandiose than Paul could ever imagine.

Audio and text: ©2012 by Benjamin D. Giffone. Reproduction and distribution are permitted, providing that the author is properly credited and that no fee is charged.