What's In A Name?

Shakespeare asks in his play Romeo & Juliet, "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet." What is in a name? What does a name mean? Why are we named the way we are? How in the world is Bob a nickname for Robert, or Jim a nickname of James? The name Cameron means "crooked nose," does that mean I actually have a crooked nose?

In the Old Testament people named their children pretty funny names. What's interesting is that the names they gave their children weren't just names, they were characteristics. A name is a very powerful thing. If you can give a name to something then you can begin to understand it, and the qualities it possesses.

So if names are characteristics, and giving something a name is the beginning to understand it, then what about God? Why does He have so many names? God, Almighty, I AM, Father, Jesus, Christ, LORD, King Of Kings, Master. What do they all mean? All junior high students are encouraged to join us tomorrow night as we begin our Names Of God series. It's a wonderful exploration into the names of God, discovering what specific names mean & looking at the Biblical stories behind those names. Come and consider what your favorite name for Him is.