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The Names of God - Bible Study for Women with Video Access: A Study of Who God Is and Who He Calls Us to Be
224 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2026
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August 14, 2026
The Names of God is a Bible study that invites readers to know God more deeply by exploring the many names Scripture uses for Him. Although the study is associated with Kristi McLelland, it is a collaborative work featuring teachings from McLelland along with Caroline Saunders, Blair Linne, Jennifer Rothschild, Kelly Minter, and Elizabeth Woodson. The central idea is simple but profound: the names of God are not merely different titles or words used to describe Him. Each name reveals something about His character, His actions, His relationship with His people, and the kind of life He calls His followers to live. Moving from Genesis through Revelation, the study encourages readers to look beyond familiar ideas about God and encounter Him through the many ways He has revealed Himself in Scripture.
The book begins by establishing why names matter so much in the biblical world. Today, a person's name may simply be a label used to identify them, but in Scripture, names often communicate identity, character, reputation, purpose, or relationship. When the Bible gives God a particular name, it is revealing something important about who He is. One example is El-Roi, meaning “the God who sees me.” This name reminds believers that God is not distant or unaware of their struggles. He sees people personally and completely. In the same way, the name Jesus points to the Lord as salvation, while the Holy Spirit is presented as Comforter and Counselor. The study therefore turns the names of God into invitations to know Him personally rather than merely learning theological definitions.
Kristi McLelland lays the foundation for the study by looking at the larger story of Scripture and helping readers understand the historical and cultural background of the biblical world. Her approach emphasizes that the Bible is one connected story rather than a collection of unrelated events. Understanding the world in which biblical people lived can make God's names more meaningful because those names were revealed in particular circumstances. God reveals Himself as people face uncertainty, suffering, danger, loneliness, conflict, and change. His names often become especially meaningful when His people need to understand who He is in the middle of their circumstances. This makes the study practical as well as theological.
The journey through Genesis introduces names such as Elohim and Yahweh. Elohim points toward God's greatness, creative power, and authority, particularly in the opening account of creation. Yahweh, meanwhile, communicates God's personal and covenantal relationship with His people. Together, these names present a God who is both overwhelmingly powerful and intimately near. The study encourages readers to hold these two truths together. God is not simply a distant Creator with unlimited power, nor is He merely a comforting presence. He is the sovereign God who chooses to draw near to His people and remain faithful to them.
The study then turns to the name Father and explores what it means for believers to understand God through this relationship. Calling God Father communicates belonging, care, protection, and family. For someone who has experienced rejection, loneliness, or an imperfect family relationship, this idea can be especially powerful. The study encourages readers to see themselves as people who belong to God's family rather than people who must constantly earn His acceptance. Knowing God as Father can change the way a person approaches prayer, fear, failure, and everyday decisions. It also creates a sense of identity: believers are not simply individuals trying to find their way through life but people who have been invited into God's family.
Another major theme is God's name as the Lord of Hosts. Drawing particularly from Psalm 46, the study presents God as the One whose presence and strength remain dependable when circumstances become frightening or unstable. Life can bring storms that people cannot control, and faith does not mean pretending those storms do not exist. Instead, the study encourages readers to recognize that God's presence is greater than the circumstances surrounding them. The name Lord of Hosts points toward His authority and strength, while Psalm 46 emphasizes the security found in knowing that He is present. The message is not that believers will never experience trouble, but that they do not have to face trouble alone.
The study then moves into the New Testament and focuses on Jesus as Lord. Jesus is not presented merely as a teacher, historical figure, or source of moral wisdom. His identity and authority are central to Christian faith. Calling Jesus Lord means recognizing His authority and responding to Him with trust and obedience. The study connects this understanding with hope, healing, and transformation. Knowing who Jesus is should influence not only what believers believe but also how they live, make choices, treat others, and understand their own lives. Faith becomes something active rather than something kept separate from everyday behavior.
The Holy Spirit receives similar attention. The Spirit is described as God's presence within believers, giving life, guiding people into truth, comforting them, and empowering them to live courageously for Christ. This part of the study helps readers understand the Trinity more clearly by considering the distinct work of the Father, Son, and Spirit while maintaining the unity of God. Rather than viewing the Holy Spirit as an abstract theological concept, the study encourages believers to recognize His presence and guidance in their daily lives. The Spirit gives believers strength to live out their faith instead of relying solely on their own ability.
One of the most important ideas running throughout the book is that knowing God's names should eventually change the way a person lives. The study does not want readers to collect biblical information without allowing it to affect their hearts and actions. Each name reveals a characteristic of God, and understanding that characteristic should inspire a response. If God is faithful, believers are encouraged to become people of faithfulness. If God is compassionate, they are challenged to show compassion. If God sees people who feel invisible, His followers should learn to notice and care for those who are overlooked. In this sense, the study moves from theology to discipleship.
The final session, “Living the Name,” brings the entire study together. McLelland challenges readers to move beyond simply knowing the names of God and to represent His character in the world. Because Christians bear God's name, their actions affect how others perceive the God they claim to follow. The goal, therefore, is not only deeper knowledge but a transformed life marked by generosity, hope, faithfulness, courage, and love.
Ultimately, The Names of God is a study about relationship and identity. It teaches that every name of God offers another window into His character and another reason to trust Him. By exploring the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit across the story of Scripture, the book encourages readers to replace vague ideas about God with a richer and more personal understanding of who He is. Its final message is that knowing God's name should lead to knowing His heart, trusting His presence, and reflecting His character. The more deeply believers understand who God is, the more clearly they can understand who they are called to be—and the more faithfully they can carry His name into a world that needs hope, compassion, truth, and love.
The book begins by establishing why names matter so much in the biblical world. Today, a person's name may simply be a label used to identify them, but in Scripture, names often communicate identity, character, reputation, purpose, or relationship. When the Bible gives God a particular name, it is revealing something important about who He is. One example is El-Roi, meaning “the God who sees me.” This name reminds believers that God is not distant or unaware of their struggles. He sees people personally and completely. In the same way, the name Jesus points to the Lord as salvation, while the Holy Spirit is presented as Comforter and Counselor. The study therefore turns the names of God into invitations to know Him personally rather than merely learning theological definitions.
Kristi McLelland lays the foundation for the study by looking at the larger story of Scripture and helping readers understand the historical and cultural background of the biblical world. Her approach emphasizes that the Bible is one connected story rather than a collection of unrelated events. Understanding the world in which biblical people lived can make God's names more meaningful because those names were revealed in particular circumstances. God reveals Himself as people face uncertainty, suffering, danger, loneliness, conflict, and change. His names often become especially meaningful when His people need to understand who He is in the middle of their circumstances. This makes the study practical as well as theological.
The journey through Genesis introduces names such as Elohim and Yahweh. Elohim points toward God's greatness, creative power, and authority, particularly in the opening account of creation. Yahweh, meanwhile, communicates God's personal and covenantal relationship with His people. Together, these names present a God who is both overwhelmingly powerful and intimately near. The study encourages readers to hold these two truths together. God is not simply a distant Creator with unlimited power, nor is He merely a comforting presence. He is the sovereign God who chooses to draw near to His people and remain faithful to them.
The study then turns to the name Father and explores what it means for believers to understand God through this relationship. Calling God Father communicates belonging, care, protection, and family. For someone who has experienced rejection, loneliness, or an imperfect family relationship, this idea can be especially powerful. The study encourages readers to see themselves as people who belong to God's family rather than people who must constantly earn His acceptance. Knowing God as Father can change the way a person approaches prayer, fear, failure, and everyday decisions. It also creates a sense of identity: believers are not simply individuals trying to find their way through life but people who have been invited into God's family.
Another major theme is God's name as the Lord of Hosts. Drawing particularly from Psalm 46, the study presents God as the One whose presence and strength remain dependable when circumstances become frightening or unstable. Life can bring storms that people cannot control, and faith does not mean pretending those storms do not exist. Instead, the study encourages readers to recognize that God's presence is greater than the circumstances surrounding them. The name Lord of Hosts points toward His authority and strength, while Psalm 46 emphasizes the security found in knowing that He is present. The message is not that believers will never experience trouble, but that they do not have to face trouble alone.
The study then moves into the New Testament and focuses on Jesus as Lord. Jesus is not presented merely as a teacher, historical figure, or source of moral wisdom. His identity and authority are central to Christian faith. Calling Jesus Lord means recognizing His authority and responding to Him with trust and obedience. The study connects this understanding with hope, healing, and transformation. Knowing who Jesus is should influence not only what believers believe but also how they live, make choices, treat others, and understand their own lives. Faith becomes something active rather than something kept separate from everyday behavior.
The Holy Spirit receives similar attention. The Spirit is described as God's presence within believers, giving life, guiding people into truth, comforting them, and empowering them to live courageously for Christ. This part of the study helps readers understand the Trinity more clearly by considering the distinct work of the Father, Son, and Spirit while maintaining the unity of God. Rather than viewing the Holy Spirit as an abstract theological concept, the study encourages believers to recognize His presence and guidance in their daily lives. The Spirit gives believers strength to live out their faith instead of relying solely on their own ability.
One of the most important ideas running throughout the book is that knowing God's names should eventually change the way a person lives. The study does not want readers to collect biblical information without allowing it to affect their hearts and actions. Each name reveals a characteristic of God, and understanding that characteristic should inspire a response. If God is faithful, believers are encouraged to become people of faithfulness. If God is compassionate, they are challenged to show compassion. If God sees people who feel invisible, His followers should learn to notice and care for those who are overlooked. In this sense, the study moves from theology to discipleship.
The final session, “Living the Name,” brings the entire study together. McLelland challenges readers to move beyond simply knowing the names of God and to represent His character in the world. Because Christians bear God's name, their actions affect how others perceive the God they claim to follow. The goal, therefore, is not only deeper knowledge but a transformed life marked by generosity, hope, faithfulness, courage, and love.
Ultimately, The Names of God is a study about relationship and identity. It teaches that every name of God offers another window into His character and another reason to trust Him. By exploring the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit across the story of Scripture, the book encourages readers to replace vague ideas about God with a richer and more personal understanding of who He is. Its final message is that knowing God's name should lead to knowing His heart, trusting His presence, and reflecting His character. The more deeply believers understand who God is, the more clearly they can understand who they are called to be—and the more faithfully they can carry His name into a world that needs hope, compassion, truth, and love.
August 20, 2026
This Bible study about different names for God doubles as a survey of the Bible itself, from Genesis through Revelation. I love that even though this study has a topical focus, it moves through redemptive history in chronological order, helping people study and understand the whole story of the Bible.
This workbook includes personal study sections as well as recorded video sessions, which are available for free with an access code that comes with the book. This is an eight-week study, with five days of study per week, as well as the video session. There are discussion questions at the end of each week, which people can explore individually or in group settings. People can go through this at the intended pace, but they can also slow down and move through this more gradually.
The publisher is marketing this as a study for women because it's written by six female Bible teachers, but there is nothing female-specific about the content itself. This is a high-quality Bible study that focuses on Scripture itself, not on the perceived life experiences of the audience. Because this is written for women, there are gendered references throughout, like when the authors refer to the reader as a daughter of God. But unlike with some other books and studies written for women, this one does not push stereotypes on female readers or make any assumptions about their personality, interests, or stage in life.
If someone is looking for a study that will help them really dig into personal interpretation of Scripture, then this won't be the best fit. This is heavy on teaching content and explanation in the study sections, not just the videos. The questions for readers to answer tend to be fairly straightforward observation questions, or personal application questions. There are some occasional interpretive questions, but for the most part, the Bible teachers are explaining what everything means, and how it fits together. This will be great for many readers, but someone who wants to expand their own interpretive abilities will want to pursue a different Bible study.
I highly recommend this Bible study. This workbook and the teaching sessions will help people better understand who God is, and I love how the authors contextualize all of this within the story of creation, the fall, redemption, and new creation. This study is also great for both individual use and group study, and doesn't require any modifications for either context.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This workbook includes personal study sections as well as recorded video sessions, which are available for free with an access code that comes with the book. This is an eight-week study, with five days of study per week, as well as the video session. There are discussion questions at the end of each week, which people can explore individually or in group settings. People can go through this at the intended pace, but they can also slow down and move through this more gradually.
The publisher is marketing this as a study for women because it's written by six female Bible teachers, but there is nothing female-specific about the content itself. This is a high-quality Bible study that focuses on Scripture itself, not on the perceived life experiences of the audience. Because this is written for women, there are gendered references throughout, like when the authors refer to the reader as a daughter of God. But unlike with some other books and studies written for women, this one does not push stereotypes on female readers or make any assumptions about their personality, interests, or stage in life.
If someone is looking for a study that will help them really dig into personal interpretation of Scripture, then this won't be the best fit. This is heavy on teaching content and explanation in the study sections, not just the videos. The questions for readers to answer tend to be fairly straightforward observation questions, or personal application questions. There are some occasional interpretive questions, but for the most part, the Bible teachers are explaining what everything means, and how it fits together. This will be great for many readers, but someone who wants to expand their own interpretive abilities will want to pursue a different Bible study.
I highly recommend this Bible study. This workbook and the teaching sessions will help people better understand who God is, and I love how the authors contextualize all of this within the story of creation, the fall, redemption, and new creation. This study is also great for both individual use and group study, and doesn't require any modifications for either context.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews