By Marissa Postell Sullivan
LEBANON, Tenn. — Earlier this month, over 600 women descended on The Journey Church in Lebanon, Tennessee, for the “Names of God” Bible study taping and Lifeway Women event, featuring six Bible study teachers and authors.
This was a first-of-its-kind event for Lifeway, highlighting many of the aspects common to Lifeway Women events, including worship and teaching from trustworthy leaders with an added touch of a behind-the-scenes feel.
Betsy Langmade, senior manager of event experiences at Lifeway, shared how her study of the names of God years ago became an anchor for her life. “When I heard Lifeway Women was publishing this study on the names of God, I knew a live event needed to be a part of it.”
While the teaching at this event will become the video sessions for the forthcoming “Names of God” Bible study, the Lifeway Women team said they wanted this to be a genuine experience for attendees. “This is not a production for us,” said Andrea Lennon, director of Lifeway Women. “This is a Bible study moment.”
The “Names of God” Bible study, releasing from Lifeway Women on August 3, 2026, is an eight-session study by teachers Kristi McLelland, Caroline Saunders, Blair Linne, Jennifer Rothschild, Kelly Minter and Elizabeth Woodson. Together, these teachers will lead women to study the names of God from the opening chapters of Genesis through the final verses of Revelation.
“There is something special about knowing God and understanding His character through the study of His powerful names,” Lennon said. “As women engage with this study, hearts and minds will be drawn closer to the Lord and meaningful connections will be formed among participants. It will offer a valuable opportunity for women to gather, grow and flourish by sharing how each name of God has shaped or reshaped their faith journey.”
Large audience, live taping
Led by recording artist Lindsay McCaul, women worshiped together with an energy and passion that carried into the teaching sessions. Across the room, the women’s hunger to meet with God was palpable. The Bible teachers expressed their gratitude for the audience’s active participation, saying it inspired in them an energy and delight in sharing their messages. This mutual encouragement between audience and teachers developed into a special “behind-the-scenes” moment as the audience took on the active role of counting in authors before their session recordings.
One group of women attended the event wearing shirts that read “Team Bride.” The bride-to-be, Emma Collett from Cullman, Alabama, said her bridal party came with her to this event for her bachelorette trip. For Collett, this trip was an expression of her refusal to live like the world and her desire to look like Christ. She said this event had a part to play in preparing her to set her “foundation for this marriage in the right way. Instead of on sand, I’m building it on the rock.”
However, this event wasn’t only impactful for the audience but also for the authors, teaching within the unique context of a multi-author Bible study. “It’s always a blessing to learn from each other,” said Rothschild.
Introducing the names of God
McLelland opened the teaching for the event introducing the significance of the names of God. “The names of God have to do with His action in the world,” McLelland said, as she invited women to look for God’s activity as they studied His names.
McLelland then led women to see this reality played out with the name God used to introduce Himself to Moses in Exodus 3—the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. Examining the meaning of the names of these three men, McLelland guided women to consider what they could learn about God based on who He affiliated Himself with. “The living God is not afraid to affiliate with you,” McLelland said. “He knows He can change your name.”
Making her way through the pages of Genesis, Saunders taught the next session on the names of God in the opening book of the Bible, introducing Him not only as the Creator God but also as the relational God. As Saunders invited women into the study of God’s names in Genesis, she told them that each name of God leads to a deeper knowledge of who God is. “Isn’t it honoring to know God wants us to know Him?” Saunders asked as she called women to know God as El Elyon, El-Roi, El Shaddai, El Olam and Yahweh Yireh.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
For the next session, Linne taught about God as Father. Sharing some of her experience growing up in a home without a father, Linne told women that no matter their view of a father based on their own experiences, they must learn how God defines fatherhood. “God the Father makes us children through God the Son,” Linne said, “and being a child of God changes everything about who we are.”
Rothschild taught on God’s name as the Lord of Hosts. Based on Psalm 46, she reminded women that God is not only powerful but also present. Because of this reality made clear through God’s name, Rothschild told women they can be still—cease striving, stop fighting—by determining not to fear, delighting in God’s presence and deliberating on God’s works.
Unpacking the meaning of the name Lord, Minter challenged women to consider whether they were living like God was Lord of their lives. In her teaching, Minter led women through three stories in the Gospel of Matthew where someone referred to Jesus as Lord. Through these stories, Minter showed women that Jesus as Lord means trusting Him with everything they have. “We can trust His will, His authority, and the story He is writing for us because He is good, and He is God,” Minter said.
Considering the names of the Holy Spirit in Acts and the Pauline letters, Woodson showed women that the Holy Spirit gives life, forms believers into the image of Christ and empowers believers to live on mission for Christ. “It is impossible for you to be who God has called you to be without your submission to the Spirit,” Woodson said.
Living the name
In the final session, McLelland helped women apply what they had learned about the names of God to their daily lives as believers. “When we talk about carrying the name of the Lord, we’re talking about carrying His reputation in the earth,” McLelland said.
To this end, McLelland challenged women to live in such a way that causes others to love the Lord. She left women with three practical ways of carrying God’s name in the modern generation—table fellowship, generosity and hope in grief. “As followers of Jesus, we are meant to engage the world and not retreat from it.”
Closing this final session, McLelland asked women if they were ready to reup their walk with God. The room full of women stood as an expression of their desire to “take on the name of Jesus and begin anew.”
To learn more about the “Names of God” Bible study and additional product offerings, visit Lifeway.com.
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Marissa Postell Sullivan is a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources.
In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, group curriculum, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.
