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KNOWN Summer
Study 2026
I'm so glad you're here!
Use this Hub as your central gathering place throughout the summer. Each week you'll find study materials, meeting links, recordings, and curated resources designed to help you engage more deeply with each Name of God we're exploring.
Start Here
This Hub is your central gathering place throughout the KNOWN Summer Study. Bookmark this page to return each week for resources, recordings, meeting information, and additional materials.
Each week, you'll find a new section containing the core study resources for that week's names of God, along with optional resources such as articles, podcasts, worship music, and other materials for deeper reflection. I will often refer to these resources in our live online meetings.
There is no expectation that you complete everything. The goal is not simply to consume more content, but to create space for God to reveal himself and to respond to that revelation. Engage with the resources as you are able, following the Spirit's leading and the rhythms of your own life.
I encourage you to begin each week with the KNOWN study materials, participate in our live gathering when possible, and then explore any additional resources that resonate with you.
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Meeting Link
Missing the video call link? https://meet.google.com/wzc-dbfu-btb
Names Explored:
This week, we'll begin with Abba during our Friday Kick-Off Meeting. Participants can then
explore additional resources on Abba before moving into Creator and El Roi.
We start with Abba because He is the doorway to experiencing the rest of God's names. Before
we know Him as Provider, Shepherd, or Healer, we must first know Him as Father. Every
expression of God's character flows from His love for His children.
Creator reminds us that our identity begins with God's design, not our circumstances. We are intentionally created and uniquely formed by Him. El Roi, "the God who sees me," reveals that God not only sees our pain, struggles, and unanswered questions, but also meets us there with His presence and provision.
Together, these names remind us that we are deeply loved, intentionally created, and fully seen by God.
Week One
Additional Resources:
Gracefull Access - My latest blog post asking the question: What if access is not merely being allowed into a place? What if it is being welcomed into a person's heart and mind?
Once A Son, Always A Son - This retelling of the Prodigal Son by a friend of mine, Sergio DeSoto, will blow your mind and remind you of the daughter you truly never stopped being. This one is transformative!
Identity, Repentance & Return - This is my companion piece to the article above. It dives into the power of RETURN, the very thing that destroys false identities we've been trying on, breaks generational curses/consequences, and has the power to restore us to our destiny. Both of these articles come with a recording to listen to instead of reading.
Your Family Tree - If your family tree contains some problematic people or if you've ever felt you didn't belong, list or read this Substack post by another author that will help you realize that your adoption was always the plan.
Expectations - What if our expectations of God are setting us up to fail? Read this thought-provoking piece on how we may set ourselves up to fail by limiting God to the portions of his character that we like and failing to grapple with the hard parts we don't like.
Your Destiny - If you want to watch videos dealing with the theme of destiny (and one of the best teachings on this topic I've EVER heard, watch the five videos below by Bob Hamp. Trust me—worth every second. If you've ever struggled with addiction, destiny, self-image, or legalism, this teaching will unleash a transformation.
Father Wound/Mother Wound Resources
For those dealing with wounds from earthly fathers and mothers, here is a teaching and two prayers to pray and allow to soak into your heart. Make sure to pause and allow the Holy Spirit to fill in the blanks, customizing it when the Holy Spirit reminds you of particulars. If you would like help praying these prayers and for me to pray over you to release both of these areas, I am available!
Generational Consequences (Blessings & Curses)
If you're not familiar with generational consequences or have not received a thorough teaching on the topic (or maybe learned from someone who did not believe they were still applicable in the New Covenant), feel free to read the drafts of two chapters from my upcoming book. Just PLEASE DO NOT SHARE without letting me know. I can get in BIG trouble with my publisher if chapters are shared on the internet or via email before it's published. ;)
Generational Consequences (Blessings & Curses)
If you're not familiar with generational consequences or have not received a thorough teaching on the topic (or maybe learned from someone who did not believe they were still applicable in the New Covenant), feel free to read the drafts of two chapters from my upcoming book. Just PLEASE DO NOT SHARE without letting me know. I can get in BIG trouble with my publisher if chapters are shared on the internet or via email before it's published. ;)
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Names Explored:
This week, we'll explore three names of God: Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, and Emmanuel. Together, these names reveal a God who is not distant from our lives, but deeply present within them.
We are familiar with Emmanuel, "God with us," but Jehovah Jireh expands that truth by reminding us that God sees our circumstances and has already made provision for what we need. Jehovah Nissi adds another layer, revealing God as our banner, the One who declares His truth over us when our circumstances, emotions, or the enemy's lies tell a different story.
These names remind us that God is with us, God sees us, God provides for us, and God speaks truth over us.
Week Two
Additional Resources:
The God Who Provides A Sacrifice - If you've ever struggled to reconcile God's goodness with His command for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, this thoughtful Substack article is worth your time. It explores several deeper layers of the story, providing historical context and biblical insights that may challenge some common interpretations while illuminating the nature and character of God in surprising ways. (A must-read if you've ever wondered why God would ask Abraham to sacrifice his son.)
Abide in Love: The Joy of Remaining in Christ - A meaningful reflection on John 15, shifting the focus away from striving to find God and back to the reality that God is already holding us in his love. If you've ever felt like the spiritual life is more about effort than relationship, Ian Mobsby's meditation offers a gentle reminder that perhaps the deepest invitation of Jesus is to ABIDE where we are already loved.
Formula For Diagnosing A Walk With God - One of my greatest joys is taking complex ideas and distilling them into something simpler and easier to understand. Not only does this make them easier to remember, but it also makes them easier to apply in our own lives and when walking alongside others in discipleship.
In the following blog posts, I've begun exploring what it looks like to walk with God through different seasons and challenges. The first post is not written in my own voice, but the remaining posts are. As you read, pay attention to where you see yourself along the pathway. You may even recognize that you're in different places depending on the area of life you're considering.
As you identify where you are, be prepared to share with the group. Together, we'll explore what may be at the root of that struggle and discover the truth, healing, or next step God may be inviting you into.
Names Explored:
Last week, we explored three names that reveal God's desire to dwell with his people: Jehovah
Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, and Emmanuel. While each name highlights a different aspect of his
character, together they point to a greater reality. God's presence is not merely one of the
blessings he gives us. His presence is THE blessing. From Genesis to Revelation, the story of
Scripture is the story of a God who longs to be with his people.
This week, we begin to explore what that means for us. If God's desire is to dwell with humanity, then we must ask: what kind of people is he forming us to be? The name Potter reminds us that since Eden, God has been shaping vessels for his presence. He formed Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed his Spirit into him. Throughout Scripture, God continues this work, patiently shaping and refining his people so that they can carry his glory into the world. We are not accidents or unfinished projects. We are being intentionally formed by the hands of a loving Father who knows exactly what he is creating.
The name Good Shepherd builds on this truth. Vessels are not meant to sit empty on a shelf. They are meant to be filled and poured out. Jesus tells us that his sheep know his voice and follow him because they belong near his heart. As those who carry the Spirit of God, we are called to live from that place of intimacy. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead now lives within us, filling us with his life, wisdom, love, and power. Yet we cannot pour out what we are no longer receiving. When we wander from the Shepherd's presence, we begin to run dry. The invitation in The Resurrection & The Life is to remain close enough to hear his voice, stay filled with his Spirit, and allow him to pour his resurrection power through us into the lives of others. THIS is living Eternal Life now.
Week Three
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Additional Resources:
Vessels Or Channels of His Presence - A brief but encouraging reminder that God is constantly pouring his life, love, and truth into us so that it can flow through us to others, and that staying connected to him is the key to living as a healthy channel of his grace.
Gracefull Communion - This reflection expands our understanding of communion beyond the bread and the cup, revealing it as an ongoing exchange of life between God and his people. Through Christ, we are invited into unbroken fellowship where we continually receive the Father's love, wisdom, provision, and presence, and return our worship, gratitude, obedience, and affection to him. More than a ritual, communion becomes a way of living in constant relationship with God, participating in the divine flow of giving and receiving that has existed within the Trinity from the beginning.
Wrestling With Both Jacob & Esau
These two draft chapters from a forthcoming book explore one of Scripture's most intriguing mysteries: Jacob's encounter with God, his renaming as Israel, and what that new name may actually mean. Challenging common assumptions, this study wrestles honestly with the biblical text, the story of Jacob and Esau, and the possibility that "Israel" means something far deeper than "one who wrestles with God." Please note that these chapters are shared in draft form and have not yet undergone professional editing. (Please don't share with others without permission.)
Names Explored:
Last week, we explored three names that reveal God's purpose for his people: Potter, Good Shepherd,
and The Resurrection & the Life. Together, these names remind us that God is not simply calling us into
his presence; he is intentionally shaping us into vessels who can carry it. As we remain close to the
Good Shepherd, hearing his voice and abiding in him, we are continually filled with the resurrection
life of Christ, allowing his Spirit to flow through us to a world desperately in need of his life.
This week, we turn our attention to three names that anchor us in the security of God's eternal presence: Alpha & Omega, Omnipresent, and El Shaddai. Last week, we learned that we are being formed by the Potter into vessels for God's presence, filled by the Good Shepherd, and invited to live in the resurrection life of Christ. This week, we discover why we can trust him so completely. The Shepherd who calls us to follow him is also the Alpha and the Omega, the One who holds our beginning and our end. Our stories are not unfolding outside his care or catching him by surprise. Every chapter rests securely in his hands.
These names also reveal something breathtaking about God's presence. He is not bound by time, but inhabits all of time at once. He is present in the places we call our past, still redeeming what was broken. He is with us in this present moment, guiding us with wisdom and grace. And he is already present in the future, where every promise has found its fulfillment and Christ's victory is complete. This is why we can walk forward in faith instead of fear. The God who calls us onward is already there to meet us. And because he is El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One, we never journey alone or in lack. Out of his limitless abundance, he already is our sufficiency, supplying everything we need as we need it, until the story he began reaches its glorious completion.
Click here for a printable of all the names and their meanings that we'll cover this summer.
Week Four
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Additional Resources:
Gracefull Patience - As we consider Jesus as the Alpha & Omega this week, we're reminded that our stories are secure in his hands from beginning to end. This article reflects on God's remarkable patience, showing that while his purposes and justice may unfold over years or even generations, nothing escapes his notice, and every promise and every consequence finds its proper place in his perfect timing. This is also comforting when we consider the stories of others in our lives.
Merciful Intervention - This second resource reminds us that even when God seems silent, he is never absent. The story of Dinah is one of Scripture's most difficult accounts, yet it reveals that the Alpha and Omega was present all along, patiently working his purposes through human failure, intervening in mercy before anyone even called out to him, and preserving his covenant plan. Sometimes God's presence is most clearly seen not in what he says, but in what he faithfully does behind the scenes.
The Three Tamars
The final resource reminds us that God is never writing only one chapter at a time. The stories of the three Tamars reveal a God who faithfully redeems what appears hopeless, weaving together generations of brokenness into his greater plan of salvation. As the Alpha and Omega, he sees the beginning, the middle, and the end of every story, proving that no wound, injustice, or detour is beyond his power to redeem.
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Names Explored:
Last week, we explored three names that anchored us in the security of God's eternal presence:
Alpha & Omega, Omnipresent, and El Shaddai. Together, these names reminded us that our stories
are secure in God's hands. He inhabits all of time, redeeming our past, walking with us in the present,
and already waiting in our future. As El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One, he does not merely meet our
needs from a distance. Out of his limitless abundance, he himself becomes our sufficiency, supplying
everything we need as we need it.
This week, we begin to discover what flows from that abundance. Jehovah Rapha reveals that God heals not only our bodies but also our hearts, minds, relationships, and the broken places sin has left behind. Jehovah Shalom reminds us that his peace is far more than the absence of conflict; it is the wholeness, rest, and flourishing that come from living in his presence. Finally, Jesus reveals himself as the True Vine. Just as branches receive everything they need by remaining connected to the vine, we receive every provision of El Shaddai as we abide in Christ. Healing, peace, strength, wisdom, joy, and every good gift flow from our continual union with him. The Christian life is not striving to produce fruit on our own, but remaining so closely connected to the Vine that his life naturally becomes our own.
As we've journeyed through these names together, you may have noticed a pattern. God first reveals his desire to dwell with us, then forms us into vessels capable of carrying his presence. He teaches us to abide near the Good Shepherd, fills us with his resurrection life, and assures us that our entire story is secure in his hands. From his limitless abundance as El Shaddai, he supplies everything we need, and now we begin to experience what that abundance produces: healing through Jehovah Rapha, peace through Jehovah Shalom, and a continual flow of life as we remain connected to Christ, the True Vine. This is the Christian life—not striving to become more like Christ, but abiding in him until his life naturally flows through ours.
Week Five
Additional Resources:
Gracefull Pruning - This week's final resource explores what it truly means to abide in Christ as branches in the True Vine. Drawing from Andrew Murray's Abiding in Christ, this reflection reminds us that everything we need—wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, healing, peace, and every other gift of God—flows from our position in Christ. Even the Father's pruning is an act of grace, lovingly removing what hinders our growth so that we can bear more fruit and reveal more of Christ to the world.
Gracefull Cultivation - This resource explores the invitation to abide in Christ, not as another spiritual discipline to master, but as a life of continual dependence on him. It reminds us that the same grace that calls us to Christ also enables us to remain in him, receiving every provision of El Shaddai as healing, peace, rest, and fruitfulness flow naturally from the True Vine.
Gracefull Creation - This final reflection explores what it means to receive the life Christ offers. From the opening chapters of Genesis to Jesus' invitation to abide in the True Vine, Scripture reveals that we were created to live in continual fellowship with our Creator, receiving his life and returning it in grateful worship. As we remain connected to Christ, the Source of eternal life, healing, peace, and every good gift naturally flow through us into the world around us.
Names Explored:
Last week, we discovered what begins to flow from God's limitless abundance. As Jehovah Rapha, the Lord
heals not only our bodies but also the hidden wounds of our hearts, minds, and souls. As Jehovah Shalom,
he gives us more than the absence of conflict; he gives us the deep wholeness and settled peace that remain
even in life's fiercest storms. Then Jesus invites us to abide in him as the True Vine, revealing that healing,
peace, strength, wisdom, and every good gift are not things we strive to produce but the natural fruit of
remaining connected to the Source of Life himself.
This week, we discover what becomes true of those who abide. Jehovah Shammah, "The Lord Is There," reminds us that we are never without his presence. The God who is beyond time is already in our future while remaining fully present with us today. There is no place we can go where he has not already gone before us. His presence is no longer something we occasionally experience but the atmosphere in which we now live.
From that abiding presence flows another remarkable truth. Jehovah Tzidkenu, "The Lord Our Righteousness," reveals that our standing before God is not built upon our own goodness but upon Christ himself. Through his finished work, we have been justified, are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and will one day be fully conformed to the image of Christ. Yet Scripture speaks of that righteousness as something we already wear. We are not merely borrowing a temporary righteousness until we become worthy. Because our lives are hidden in Christ, we are clothed today in the very righteousness that will one day be fully revealed when we stand complete in him.
As we've journeyed through these names together, a beautiful pattern continues to unfold. God reveals his desire to dwell with us, forms us into vessels capable of carrying his presence, teaches us to abide near the Good Shepherd, fills us with his resurrection life, secures our story in his eternal hands, and supplies everything we need from his limitless abundance. From that abundance comes healing, peace, and flourishing as we remain connected to the True Vine. Now we discover the confidence that grows from abiding: we are never alone because the Lord is there, and we stand before him clothed not in our own righteousness, but in Christ's. The Christian life is not about becoming someone God can finally accept. It is learning to live each day from the reality of who we already are in Christ.
Week Six
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Additional Resources:
Gracefull Possession - As we explore Jehovah Tzidkenu, the Lord Our Righteousness, it's easy to think only of forgiveness or right standing before God. Yet righteousness also speaks to identity. In this week's article, Graceful Possession, we look at the moment God changed Sarai's name to Sarah by adding the breath of his own Spirit, declaring not only a new future but also a new belonging. Sarah became more than a princess; she became God's princess. In the same way, through Christ, we are no longer defined by our past, our failures, or even our present struggles. Clothed in his righteousness, we have been claimed as his own. As you read, consider how often you still define yourself by your history instead of by the identity God has given you. The Christian life is not about earning God's acceptance but learning to live as someone who has already been covered by Christ's righteousness and called his own.
What Is The Holy Life? - As we reflect on Jehovah Shammah and Jehovah Tzidkenu, we naturally arrive at the question, How, then, do we live? This additional resource, What Is the Holy Life?, explores that very question. Holiness is not achieved by striving to keep a list of rules but by remaining in the presence of our holy God. As those who are clothed in Christ's righteousness and never separated from his presence, we are invited into a life of continual surrender, dying to self, renouncing the ways of the world, and abiding in Christ. Holiness is not something we produce; it is the fruit of a life lived in union with the Holy One. The closer we remain to him, the more naturally his life is formed within us.
Names Explored:
Last week, we discovered the confidence that grows from abiding. Jehovah Shammah assured us
that we are never without God's presence. The Lord who is already in our tomorrow walks beside us
today and is still present in our past, surrounding every moment of our lives with his faithful nearness.
Then Jehovah Tzidkenu revealed that we stand before God clothed not in our own righteousness
but in Christ's. Our acceptance was never something to earn but a gift to receive. Hidden in Christ,
we already wear the righteousness that will one day be fully revealed when we see him face to face.
This week, we begin to explore what naturally follows. Since we have been made righteous, how do we respond when Scripture still commands us, "Be holy, for I am holy"? Holiness is not another standard we must somehow climb to after receiving salvation. It is the beautiful work of God's life unfolding within us. The One who has declared us righteous is now making us holy, shaping us by the Holy Spirit, to reflect his own character so that we can live in unhindered fellowship with him and become living vessels of his presence.
The name Holy reminds us that God alone is perfectly pure, whole, unchanging, and completely set apart. Yet through Christ's great exchange, he took our sinfulness upon himself and clothed us with his own righteousness. Faithful & True assures us that the God who began this work will never abandon it. Every promise he has spoken is certain because he himself is unchanging. He does not merely intend to make us holy someday. From his eternal perspective, his work is already complete, and he faithfully accomplishes it in our lives day by day.
This is the process that the name Jehovah M'Kaddesh reveals: the God who sanctifies us. He is the One who continually sets us apart, not by removing us from the world but by transforming us within it. As we abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit gradually conforms us to his image until our lives begin to reflect the One who dwells within us. Holiness is not only the prerequisite for God's presence, but it is also the fruit of his presence. The God who dwells with us is the God who changes us...so we can dwell with him!
As we've journeyed through these names together, I hope you can see the beautiful story that continues to unfold. God first revealed himself as the One who longs to dwell with his people. He forms us into vessels capable of carrying his presence, teaches us to remain near the Good Shepherd, fills us with resurrection life, secures our story in his eternal hands, and supplies everything we need from his limitless abundance. He heals our wounds, gives us his peace, invites us to abide in the True Vine, assures us that he is always with us, and clothes us in Christ's righteousness. Now we discover why all of this matters. God is restoring us into people who reflect his own holiness, not so we can earn his presence, but because we already live within it. As he sanctifies us, his life increasingly flows through us, allowing his love, holiness, and faithfulness to overflow into the lives of those around us. The Christian life is not striving to become acceptable to God. It is learning to yield more fully to the Holy One who already dwells within us, until his presence naturally pours through us to a world longing to know him.
Week Seven
Additional Resources:
Taking Back Holiness - Explores how both God's law and the call to holiness have been distorted through misuse and control, causing many Christians to fear what was always meant to be an invitation. We dive into why God's law was never intended to make us holy but to reveal our need for Christ, who fulfilled the law and made a way for us to dwell in God's presence. Holiness is not striving for perfection but participating in God's own life as the Holy Spirit transforms us into Christ's image. The command, "Be holy, for I am holy," is ultimately God's loving invitation to abide with him, experience true freedom and flourishing, and become the people he created to dwell with him forever.
Taking Back What Has Been Hijacked - This post examines how God's law has often been distorted into a tool of fear, control, and outward performance rather than understood as an expression of God's holy character and love. We dive into the differences between human laws, the Mosaic Law, and God's eternal law, showing that the law was never intended to make people holy but to reveal their need for Christ. Like a mirror, it exposes humanity's inability to save itself while pointing to Jesus, who fulfilled the law and opened the way into God's presence. Rather than a burden to earn God's acceptance, the law becomes a beloved guide that leads us to the Holy One who alone can transform us and invite us to abide in his life.
Gracefull Setup - This post wrestles honestly with one of humanity's oldest questions: Is God truly good? Reflecting on the story of Adam and Eve, I argue that Genesis is not the story of a God who set humanity up to fail (which is how modern readings tell it) but of a God who lovingly set humanity up to be rescued. Whether we resist temptation and cry out to him or fall and eventually return in repentance, God continually pursues us to win our hearts. His goodness is revealed not only in giving us the freedom to choose but in his relentless grace that provides a Savior and works through every failure to draw us back into relationship with him.
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Names Explored:
Last week, we discovered that God's holiness is not a standard we strive to reach but a gift he graciously
works within us. The Holy One who clothed us in Christ's righteousness now faithfully sanctifies us day
by day, shaping us into people who increasingly reflect his character. Holiness is the fruit of living in his
presence. The God who dwells with us is continually making us more like himself, so we can dwell
together.
This week, we discover the depth of God's commitment to those he has made his own. El Olam, the Everlasting God, reminds us that our lives are part of a story far greater than ourselves. Before we were born and long after our earthly lives are complete, God remains the same, weaving every chapter of our lives into his eternal purposes. We are not writing our own isolated stories; we have been welcomed into his.
That eternal love is fiercely personal. Jehovah Qanna, the Jealous God, reveals a love unlike human jealousy. God is not jealous of us but jealous for us. He passionately pursues our hearts because he knows that every idol, every compromise, and every counterfeit affection ultimately steals the life he desires for us. His jealousy is the faithful love of a Bridegroom who refuses to abandon the one he loves. He hates the sin that separates us from him because he longs for unhindered fellowship with his people.
That pursuit is not passive. Jehovah Chereb, the Lord Our Sword, reminds us that God fights for those who belong to him. The battle has never rested on our strength alone. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly goes before his people, defending, delivering, and accomplishing what they could never accomplish for themselves. We are not abandoned to fight for our own salvation or secure our own future. The Lord himself is our defender.
As these names continue to unfold, an even greater picture emerges. The everlasting God has invited us into his eternal story. The God who passionately pursues us refuses to leave us trapped in the things that destroy us. The God who fights for us secures what his love has begun. Our lives are not held together by our ability to remain faithful to him but by his unwavering faithfulness to us. Each story in the Bible reiterates this concept—no one was able to be wholly faithful to God's laws and earn holiness. It was our faithful God who kept both sides of the covenant.
The Christian life is not a desperate attempt to hold on to God. It is the joyful discovery that the everlasting God has already taken hold of us, pursues us with perfect love, and fights to complete the work he began.
Week Eight
Additional Resources:
The Sword We Cannot Carry by Josh Benadum - This thoughtful article explores one of the Bible's most difficult subjects: God's judgment and divine vengeance. Drawing heavily from theologian Miroslav Volf, Josh Benadum argues that belief in God's perfect justice is actually what makes human forgiveness and nonviolence possible. If we believe God will ultimately make all things right, we are free to lay down our own desire for revenge and trust him with the final outcome. The article also explains why God's judgment is not at odds with his love but is one expression of it, reaching its fullest display at the Cross, where justice and mercy meet. I've provided it more as "food for thought" because the Lord Our Sword can be taken out of context to mean that we have to pick up a sword, when, in fact, it means the opposite.
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Names Explored:
Last week, we discovered that the everlasting God has already taken hold of us. He invited us into his
eternal story, pursued us with faithful love, and fought for us when we could not fight for ourselves.
Our security rests not in our ability to remain faithful to him, but in his unwavering faithfulness to us.
This week, that story becomes even more personal. Jehovah Go'el, our Kinsman-Redeemer, reveals that
God does not rescue us from a distance. Throughout Scripture, a kinsman-redeemer was a close relative
who willingly stepped into another person's loss, paying the price to restore what had been forfeited. God
does the same for us. He does not merely forgive our sins; he reclaims what sin has stolen. Because he is Jehovah Go'el, we are not forgotten or forsaken. We are deeply known, bought back at great cost, and forever his. Our worth is no longer measured by our failures but by the price our Redeemer willingly paid to make us his own.
Yet redemption is never the end of the story. Once we are redeemed, we are welcomed into a kingdom.
Jehovah Hamelech, the Lord our King, reminds us that our Redeemer is also our rightful ruler. His kingship is unlike the kingdoms of this world. His authority does not diminish our freedom; it creates it. To belong to Jehovah Hamelech is to bow and be lifted, to surrender and be secure, to obey and discover true freedom. We no longer live as spiritual orphans trying to manage our own lives. We live as beloved sons and daughters of the King, learning to trust his wisdom above our own. Every decision becomes an opportunity to ask, "What would I choose if I truly believed I was a child of the King?"
Because our King is perfectly righteous, his throne is also a place of perfect justice.
Jehovah Hashopet, the Lord our Judge, reminds us that God presides over a courtroom unlike any on earth. He sees every injustice, every hidden motive, every wound, and every act of faithfulness. Nothing escapes his notice. Yet for those who belong to Christ, the Judge has already declared the verdict that matters most. We stand accountable, but not condemned. We stand before him with reverence, yet without shame, because Jesus has already borne our sentence. Our identity is no longer determined by the accusations of others, our own regrets, or even the enemy's lies. It is established by the verdict of Heaven.
This also reshapes the way we pray. Instead of merely asking God to bless our own plans, we begin seeking his judgment, his purposes, and his heart. We learn to pray, "Lord, what have you already declared about this situation?" As we surrender to his verdict, our confidence grows because we are no longer asking him to join our agenda. We are joining his.
Together, these three names paint a beautiful picture of life with God. Our Redeemer purchases us. Our King leads us. Our Judge secures our identity. We are rescued, adopted, and established. We no longer live striving to earn our place or defend our worth. We live from the settled confidence that we belong to the One who paid for us, reigns over us, and has already spoken the final word about who we are.
The Christian life is not about proving our value. It is the joyful discovery that our Redeemer has already called us his own, our King invites us to walk in freedom, and the Judge of Heaven has declared us righteous through Christ. From that place of security, we are finally free to become who we have always been created to be.
Week Nine
Additional Resources:
Gracefull Encounters - Throughout Scripture, those who truly encountered God were never left unchanged. Abraham, Isaiah, Daniel, John, and others were overwhelmed by his holiness, yet they were also strengthened, transformed, and commissioned. This article explores why God draws near, not to frighten us away, but to reveal himself and invite us into relationship. As you reflect on Jehovah Go'el, Jehovah Hamelech, and Jehovah Hashopet, remember that your Redeemer, your King, and your Judge are the same God who lovingly comes near, not to condemn, but to restore, rule, and reveal who you truly are.
Gracefull Answers - How do we respond when God calls? This article explores the biblical response, "Hineini" ("Here I am"), the simple yet profound posture of availability that marked Abraham, Moses, and others throughout Scripture. God's invitations may not always come through burning bushes or mountaintops, but they are no less real. As you reflect on Jehovah Hamelech, consider what it means to live each day as a child of the King, ready to answer his voice with a willing heart: "Here I am." Or when the courtroom of Heaven asks for an emissary, consider how you might answer. True freedom begins not with striving, but with joyful surrender to the One who reigns over our lives.
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Names Explored:
Last week, we discovered that our Redeemer has purchased us, our King has welcomed us into his kingdom,
and our Judge has spoken the final verdict over our lives. We no longer live striving to earn our worth or
defend our identity. Because of Christ, we stand redeemed, adopted, and declared righteous before
the Father.
This week, we begin to experience what it means to live from that secure identity. Jehovah Khabodi, the
Lord My Glory, reminds us that God's glory is not merely something we admire from a distance. It is his own
radiant presence covering his people. Throughout Scripture, God's glory transforms those who behold him.
Moses' face shone after meeting with God, and Paul tells us that we are being transformed "from glory to glory" as we behold Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Because he is Jehovah Khabodi, we no longer live beneath the weight of shame. He is the One who lifts our heads, restores our dignity, and reminds us that our worth is determined not by human approval but by his unfailing love. We no longer hide in disgrace. We stand confidently in the glory of the One who calls us his own.
Once we know whose we are, we discover where we belong. Jehovah Machsi, the Lord My Refuge, reveals that God's presence is not only glorious but also deeply comforting. Throughout the Psalms, God repeatedly invites his people to take refuge in him, not merely as a place to visit in moments of crisis, but as a continual dwelling place. Because he is Jehovah Machsi, we are never exposed or defenseless. We are sheltered beneath his care, protected by his faithfulness, and held in perfect peace even when the storms around us continue to rage. Refuge is not the absence of trouble. It is the confidence that we are safely held by the One who reigns over every circumstance.
Yet God does not invite us into refuge so that we remain hidden. Jehovah 'Ori, the Lord My Light, calls us to step forward and walk confidently in his truth. Jesus declared, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). His light does not expose us in order to shame us. It lovingly reveals what must be healed, surrendered, or transformed so that we can walk in freedom. Because he is Jehovah 'Ori, we no longer stumble through life searching for our own way. His light guides our steps, exposes deception, and enables us to reflect his light into a world longing for freedom.
Together, these three names reveal the beautiful rhythm of the Christian life. God's glory restores our identity. His refuge quiets our fears. His light directs our path. We are covered, sheltered, and guided by the faithful presence of the One who never leaves us.
The Christian life is not about striving to overcome shame, fear, or confusion through our own strength. It is the joyful discovery that the God who covers us with his glory also welcomes us into his refuge and faithfully leads us by his light. As we remain near him, we become people who reflect his glory, rest in his peace, and walk confidently wherever he leads.
Week Ten
Additional Resources:
Concise Gospel - The gospel is far more than forgiveness of sins. It is God's invitation to be restored to life with him. This concise overview traces the story of Scripture from creation to new creation, reminding us that Christ came not merely to rescue us from judgment but to restore us to the relationship we were created for. As you reflect on Jehovah Khabodi, Jehovah Machsi, and Jehovah 'Ori, remember that the God who covers you with his glory, shelters you as your refuge, and leads you as your light is the very God who has been pursuing your restoration from the beginning.
Wholehearted Warrior - The Christian life is not lived by fear or self-protection but by wholehearted trust in the God who goes before us. This article explores what it means to stand courageously in Christ while remaining completely dependent upon him. As you meditate on Jehovah Machsi, let this be a reminder that our confidence is never found in our own strength. We fight from the security of God's refuge, knowing that the safest place we can stand is in the center of his will.
Gracefull Theology - Theology is not merely the study of God. It is learning to see reality through the lens of who God has revealed himself to be. Every name of God changes the way we understand ourselves, our circumstances, and the world around us. As you reflect on Jehovah Khabodi, Jehovah Machsi, and Jehovah 'Ori, consider how God's glory restores your identity, his refuge quiets your fears, and his light transforms the way you walk each day. The more clearly we know him, the more faithfully we reflect him.
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Names Explored:
Last week, we discovered what it means to live securely in the presence of God. Jehovah Khabodi
covers us with his glory and lifts our heads from shame. Jehovah Machsi welcomes us into the safety
of his presence. Jehovah 'Ori shines his light into every shadow and guides us in truth. We are
covered, sheltered, and guided by the God who never leaves us.
As we come to our final three names, we discover that the God who has revealed himself throughout this journey does not simply invite us to know him. He becomes everything we need to stand.
Jehovah Sel'i, the Lord My Rock, reveals a God who is both our unshakable foundation and the source of life itself. Throughout Scripture, rock imagery speaks of safety, strength, permanence, and refuge. A fortress built high upon a rock offered protection from enemies below, while the rock struck by Moses brought life-giving water to God's thirsty people. In Christ, the image becomes even richer: Jesus is our cornerstone, the One upon whom our lives are built. Because he is Jehovah Sel'i, we are anchored and secure. Storms may come, circumstances may shift, and fear may threaten to unsettle us, but the foundation beneath us does not move. This week, we pause to notice the places where we have felt unstable, fearful, or as though the ground beneath us were shifting, and remember the Rock upon whom we stand.
Yet standing firm does not mean standing in our own strength. Jehovah 'Uzzi, the Lord My Strength, reminds us that the Christian life was never meant to be sustained by our own determination. God does not merely tell us to be strong; he imparts his strength to us. His power meets us in our weakness and becomes strength within us as we praise, lament, surrender, and abide in his presence. When we are too weak to stand, he stands in us. Because he is Jehovah 'Uzzi, we are God-sustained, not self-made. Our weakness does not disqualify us. It becomes the very place where his strength can be revealed. As you spend time with this name, return to the Open-Handed Strength exercise on page 140 and consider what you may still be gripping that God is inviting you to place into his hands.
Finally, we come to Jehovah Magen, the Lord My Shield. For David, this was more than poetic imagery. It was testimony. He had known pursuit, betrayal, warfare, and family/friends who wanted him dead. When David called God his shield, he was speaking from experience: God had protected him, preserved him, and brought him through. Over time, the name of God had become a reality David had proved in the living of his own story. The same is true for us. Because he is Jehovah Magen, we do not walk into life exposed, defenseless, or unarmed. We are covered and defended by the faithful God who goes with us.
Together, these final names give us a beautiful picture with which to end our journey through KNOWN. Our Rock gives us somewhere to stand. Our Strength gives us power to remain standing. Our Shield covers us as we step forward. We are anchored, sustained, and protected, not because life will always be steady or easy, but because the God we have come to know is faithful.
And that is where knowing God is always meant to lead us. We began by learning his names, but names were never simply information to collect. Each name reveals an aspect of the character of the God who wants to be known and, in knowing him, has revealed something about who we are because we belong to him.
The Christian life is built upon the Rock who cannot be moved, sustained by the Strength who meets us in our weakness, and covered by the Shield who faithfully surrounds us. We can step forward from this study with open hands and settled hearts, confident not in how much we have learned about God, but in the God we have come to know.
Week Eleven
Additional Resources:
Word Nerd Wednesday: Makarios (Greek) - What does it really mean to be “blessed”? This word study explores makarios, the word Jesus uses in the Beatitudes, revealing a kind of flourishing that has little to do with comfortable circumstances and everything to do with a life aligned with God. As we consider Jehovah Sel'i and Jehovah 'Uzzi, it reminds us that we can remain deeply rooted and sustained even when the circumstances around us feel anything but steady.
What Your Sunday School Teacher Never Told You: Cities of Refuge - The cities of refuge in Numbers and Joshua provide a remarkable picture of God's provision for those fleeing for safety. Diane traces the imagery through Hebrews to Christ, our ultimate place of refuge and our High Priest whose death brings freedom. As we finish KNOWN with the God who is our Rock, Strength, and Shield, this is a beautiful reminder that God does not merely point us toward safety. He himself becomes the place where we are safe.
The Passover Is MORE Than You Think - The Passover story reveals a powerful picture of God as our Shield and Protector. In Exodus 12, safety was not found in ancestry, merit, or human strength, but beneath the covering God himself provided. This fascinating exploration of Passover traces that imagery forward to Jesus and the cross, reminding us as we study Jehovah Magen that our confidence is not in our ability to protect ourselves, but in the God who covers, preserves, and delivers his people.