Summer Camp Registrations are Open!
Give your kids and youth an experience to remember this summer!
WHO IS GOD, REALLY?
We all carry assumptions about Him—formed by our experiences, our struggles, and the voices around us. But throughout the Bible, God chooses to introduce Himself. He reveals His name so that we might know His character, trust His promises, and discover the hope only He can give.
In Known By His Name, we'll journey through Scripture to explore the many names of God, each revealing another glimpse of His heart and each ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ. Discover not just what God is called, but who He truly is.
In the gym, on a walk, or relaxing at home? Get into a worshipful mindset with this custom playlist focusing on the names of God!
What's in a Name?
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Exodus 3:14-15
Big Idea:
God’s many names do not reveal many gods; they reveal the richness of the one true God. Each name shines light on his character, each title anchors one of his promises, and all of them ultimately lead us to the saving revelation of God in Jesus Christ.
Synopsis:
What if God’s names are not just titles to learn, but invitations to know Him more deeply? Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself by name so that His people would know His character, trust His promises, and recognize His salvation. Elohim shows us the Creator who made all things, YHWH reveals the covenant Lord who comes near, Adonai reminds us that He is worthy of our surrender, and the name of Jesus brings the fullness of God’s saving love into focus. This opening message introduces the beauty, depth, and power of the names of God across the story of Scripture. We will see that God does not remain distant, vague, or unknowable. He makes Himself known so that we can worship Him, trust Him, and follow Him. The God who reveals His name is inviting us to know His heart.
Gospel Lens:
Jesus is not detached from the names of God; He is their fulfillment. The Creator becomes incarnate, the covenant Lord comes near, and the saving name of Jesus gathers up the Old Testament testimony into one glorious confession: God has come to save.
Old Testament Info:
The Bible unfolds God’s self-revelation through different names and titles. Elohim highlights God as Creator in Genesis 1:1; YHWH is bound to God’s covenant self-disclosure in Exodus 3:14–15; and Adonai carries the sense of sovereign Lord or Master, as in Psalm 8:1.
New Testament Info:
The New Testament gathers these threads into Jesus. Matthew 1:21 says his
name is given because he will save his people from their sins; Matthew 1:23 names
him Immanuel, “God with us”; and Philippians 2:9–11 says God gave him the name
above every name so that every tongue would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Reflect:
- Where have I reduced God to one trait that feels manageable instead of receiving the fullness of who he has revealed himself to be?
- Which name of God do I most need to hold onto in this season: Creator, Lord, Shepherd, Healer, Provider, Peace, or Righteousness?
- Do I speak the name of Jesus with familiarity, or with faith-filled reverence?
The Proclamation of Himself
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Exodus 34:5-7
Big Idea:
God’s name in Exodus 34 shows that his glory is not bare power but holy mercy. He is compassionate without becoming soft on sin, and he is just without ceasing to be gracious. His character holds together what sinful people usually pull apart: love and holiness, forgiveness and truth, patience and righteousness.
Synopsis:
What would God say if He introduced Himself in His own words? In Exodus 34, God passes before Moses and proclaims His name, revealing Himself as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, forgiving sin, yet perfectly just. This is not humanity reaching up to define God, but God coming down to make Himself known. At the heart of His name is the wonder of a God who is both holy and compassionate, both just and merciful, both faithful and forgiving. This passage becomes one of the most important self-revelations of God in the entire Bible, echoed again and again throughout Scripture. It shows us the God we meet fully in Jesus, where justice and mercy come together at the cross. When God proclaims His name, He reveals the heart that saves us.
Gospel Lens:
Jesus is not detached from the names of God; He is their fulfillment. The Creator becomes incarnate, the covenant Lord comes near, and the saving name of Jesus gathers up the Old Testament testimony into one glorious confession: God has come to save.
Old Testament Info:
Exodus 34:5–7 is one of the most important “name” texts in the whole Bible because God himself proclaims his own name to Moses: “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” while also affirming that he does not leave the guilty unpunished. This is not a side note in the story; it is God’s own summary of his character after Israel’s sin with the golden calf. The Old Testament keeps returning to this passage—Numbers 14:18, Psalm 103:8, Joel 2:13, and Nahum 1:3 all echo its language—showing that Israel learned to understand God through this self-revelation.
New Testament Info:
In the New Testament, John says the Word became flesh, full of grace and truth, and that grace and truth came through Jesus Christ; Jesus also says he has revealed the Father’s name.
Reflect:
- Do I secretly imagine God as less gracious than Exodus 34 says he is?
- Do I treat grace as permission to drift, even though the same passage says God is holy and just?
- When I fail, do I run from God in shame, or return to him on the basis of the character he himself has proclaimed?
- Do I take lightly his punishment of sin and truth of judgement?