The Bible Study Podcast, episode 318.

Today's Bible Study podcast is a sermon on the calling of Abraham.

Welcome to the Bible Study podcast.

Today's episode is going to be a little different.

Most of this episode is going to be a sermon that I gave just this last Sunday at my home church, which is Bethel Lutheran

Church in Cupertino. Before we get into that, though, I'm going to read you the two lessons that we

used that the sermon was based on, since that wouldn't be included in the sermon recording.

The Old Testament lesson was Genesis 15 verses 1 through 6.

After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your

shield. Your reward shall be very great. But Abram said, O Lord God, what will you give me?

For I continue childless. And the heir of my house is L. Elie Azar of Damascus. And Abram said,

You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir. But the word of

the Lord came to him, this man shall not be your heir. No one but your very own issue shall be your

heir. He brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven and count the stars if you were able to count them. Then he said to him,

So shall your descendants be. And he believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

The New Testament lesson was Hebrews 11, 1 through 3, and 8 through 16.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.

By faith, we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God,

so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was

called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out not knowing where he was

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