Knowing God by Name with Mary Kassian
Today we’re chatting with Mary Kassian about knowing God by name. Mary is an award-winning author and Bible teacher who speaks to women around the world about living out their faith, especially about what it means to be a woman according to God's design. She has published several books and Bible studies, including Girls Gone Wise, The Feminist Mistake, and Knowing God by Name: A Personal Encounter (which we talk about more in this episode!). You can see more from Mary at her website.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
In the Bible, names were significant. For example, Moses means, “to draw out of the water,” and Abraham means, “father of a multitude,” and Hannah means, “grace.” Why were names so important?
How many names of God do we find in the Bible?
What does it say about God that he would tell us his name?
Why is it important that we speak of God with reverence, no matter which name we use for him?
What is the significance of God’s personal name (Yahweh)?
What are some other names of God that stand out? Are there some helpful categories we ought to consider as we think about his names?
How does knowing more about God point us to his Son, Jesus?
What should studying the names of God compel us to do?
NOTEWORTHY QUOTES
“A name is a sign by which someone is known, but it’s much more than a label. In Ancient times, a name always depicted something important about a person’s identity, about that person’s character, or life.”
“In the Bible, a name always reveals the true nature of its bearer.”
“Knowing God by name is really important.”
“Once we know him by his names, it really takes care of a lot of other things that we’re struggling with.”
“When we know God by name, we know him for who he is.”
“What it says about God, that he would tell us his name, is that he wants us to know him for who he is, and that he wants us to enter into an intimacy with him and a personal relationship with him so that we actually grasp who it is who is this Yahweh God.”
“When you’re appealing to a name, you’re appealing to the authority and nature of that person… so whenever we appeal to God’s name, it's very important that we treat it with the reverence and respect that it’s due.”
“The name ‘I am that I am’ indicates that God is self-existent. He wasn’t created; nobody created God. He’s self-sufficient; he doesn’t depend on anything. He is all contained in himself; he doesn’t need us. He’s self-directed, he’s free to do as he pleases. He’s eternal, he has lived, and he will live; he was, he is, he will be, he is forever. He’s consistent; he is who he is and he’s true and unchanging. There’s so much truth packed into that name.”
“That name ‘I AM’ is seen as so holy and so powerful and so incredible that that’s why they put Jesus to death, because Jesus said, ‘before Abraham was, I AM.’ He identified himself with that personal name of God, ‘I AM,’ and that’s why they crucified him.”
“Holy holy holy. Not only is that his characteristic; that is actually his name.”
“Every name that we see of God the Father, we see replicated of his Son.”
“Whenever we’re studying the names of God, those things are true of Jesus. Whenever we’re seeing what Jesus was like, those things are true of his Father. All the names of God are intertwined so beautifully in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. it’s almost like a mirror reflection of the nature and character of God that we see in the Old Testament through the names of God that were revealed there and in the New Testament through who we see Jesus to be.”
“When we truly see who God is, it actually addresses a lot of the issues that we have in our lives, because he is the answer to every question.”
Practical step:
Set aside a page (or several) in your journal to start filling up with the names and characteristics of God as you encounter them in his Word
Helpful Categories for Thinking about God’s Names
Names of deity (identify that he is God):
Yahweh, I am that I am (LORD)
Adonai (my master, my lord)
Elohim
Names of character (describe God’s character to us):
Holy God
Merciful and gracious God
Faithful and true
Excellent in wisdom
Holy holy holy
Names of power:
Lord Creator
Mighty power
God who works wonders
Yahweh Rophe (Lord, Healer)
Names of authority (recognizing his authority to rule and bring direction into our lives):
King of kings
Lord of lords
King of the nations
Righteous Judge
Names of splendor (that urge us to revel in his beauty):
God of glory
Majestic glory
Great and awesome God
Everlasting light
Names of intimacy (reveal how personal God is to us):
Emmanuel - God with us
Father (Abba)
God who sees me (El Roi)
God who pursues us
Names of sufficiency:
Rock
Shepherd
My portion
God my exceeding joy (El Simchah Giyl)
Redeemer
All in all
HYMN
Names of God, by Laurell Hubick
RESOURCES
Knowing God By Name: A Personal Encounter, by Mary Kassian
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Is it significant to you that God reveals himself to you by name? Why or why not?
Why is it important that you speak of God with reverence, no matter which name you use for him?
As you read Scripture, which names of God stand out to you?
How can knowing more about God point you to his Son, Jesus?
What are you going to do or implement as a result of what you’ve learned this week?
IMPORTANT NOTE
Journeywomen interviews are intended to serve as a springboard for continued study in the context of your local church. While we carefully select guests each week, interviews do not imply Journeywomen's endorsement of all writings and positions of the interviewee or any other resources mentioned.
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