Know His Name: Building Trust in God

During the Fall of 2012, I preached a sermon series on the names of God. The purpose of the series was to give our congregation a better understanding of the character of God through studying several of the more prominent names God chooses to reveal Himself in Holy Scripture. Among all the names of God revealed in Scripture, none are as powerful, practical and personal as the name Jehovah, and its many compound forms. As God’s covenant name among His people, Jehovah captures the self-existing, unchanging nature of God in His personal involvement among His people throughout salvation history. I wanted to bring our people into closer proximity of the prominent meanings found in God’s covenant name, Jehovah, with the goal of helping them trust what these names reveal about our amazing God. The messages for the series were inspired and, in some ways, forged by the good scholarship that is available on the names of God. Authors such as Nathan Stone (Names of God, Moody Classics), Ken Hemphill (The Names of God), David Wilkerson (Knowing God by Name), Lester Sumrall (Names of God), Ann Spangler (Praying the Names of God), as well as commentaries and word study books supplied clarity of meaning and excellent scholarship that both inspired and assisted my sermon preparation. I am indebted to each of them for their contribution to this body of knowledge. Thanks to the good editing of my colleague and friend, Rick Chavez, the manuscripts for those sermons have now taken the form of this book. While not exhaustive by any means, I believe you will find the tone of this book having a sermonic devotion that will bless and inspire. And, hopefully, after reading and applying the meaning of these names, you will grow in your relationship with God. — Dr. Larry A. Vold

Dr. Larry A. Vold is Senior Pastor of 3 Crosses Neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, CA. Larry earned a Master's Degree in Theology from Simpson University and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Bakke Graduate University. He learned about Jesus through the evangelical church his family attended. Larry received Christ as a young boy and his life was transformed in high school thanks to a youth pastor who clearly modeled what it meant to follow Jesus. He soon shared his faith with friends and witnessed to many at the Campus After Dark outreach. Through these formational years, Larry experienced the power of God to help us all in both simple and profound ways and is steadfastly following Jesus and welcoming the Lord's grace in his life. Pastor Larry serves as a Chaplain for the Alameda County Fire Department, serving firefighters as well as local residents. His interests include family time, playing basketball, riding bikes and motorcycles with friends, ocean fishing from his kayak and playing trumpet.