Elohim

Manuscript Template

Title:  Elohim

Focus Statement:  Elohim carries connotations of strength and power, representing the infinite, all-powerful God who demonstrates through His works that He is the creator, sustainer, and supreme judge of all creation

Function Statement:  Realizing the personal nature of Elohim inspires believers to embrace their God-given identity and purpose, encouraging a response of worship and trust in His creative design for their lives.

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Redemptive Closure (point to Jesus):  

Benediction:  

WELCOME

Good morning!!! My name is Ryan Hanson, and I have the honor of serving here at The Light KC as the lead pastor. I’m so glad you’re here with us.

‌Welcome to those joining us online. We hope you're doing well and hope to see you in person in the coming weeks.

And a special welcome to those joining us for the first time. We’re so glad you chose to be here.

ME/INTRO - Tension

Do you think about why people have the names they do?

I asked my parents why they named me Ryan. True story.

I’m not 100% sure if my mom was joking or serious, but the answer I got was, “I named you Ryan because it is fun to yell, RYYYYYAAAAAAAANNNN”. Apparently, knowing I was going to be a middle child, my parents planned ahead for all the trouble I would be in.

I never really thought much about my name beyond that.

I knew Ryan means “little prince” and Thomas means “twin” which I always wondered about because I don’t have a twin, but honestly I was more agitated that Thomas is spelled with a “TH”. I still vividly remember when I got yelled at in Kindergarten for misspelling it. I still remember, clear as day, how stupid I felt when the teacher made me feel stupid for spelling my name wrong.

But, when Andrea and I went to Israel we learned that names in the Bible are different, names give to people in Biblical times carry meaning.

According to the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible:

In the Hebrew language, the term for “name” most probably meant “sign” or “distinctive mark.” In the Greek language, “name” is derived from a verb which means “to know”; a name then indicates that by which a person or object is to be known. But the idea of name is not to be taken in the sense of a label or an arbitrary means of identifying or specifying a person, place, or object. “Name” in biblical usage correctly describes the person, place, or object and indicates the essential character of that to which the name is given.

When Andrea and I had Eliana, we wanted to give her a name that would speak to the character we hoped she would have.

Eliana is a Hebrew name that means “God has answered”

Riley (her middle name) means “brave or courageous”

We named Eliana specifically because we believed that “God has answered our desire for a daughter who will grow up to be brave and courageous”. So far that’s been very true and we could not be more proud.

We didn’t get to choose the names for Wyatt and Grace because they were adopted, but they had the unique ability to choose their own names. When the adoption was approved the social worker told them they could change their name if they wanted.

Wyatt loved his name because it means “strong warrior”

He loved that his middle name was Thomas so we got to be “middle name buddies”

So he chose not to change his name

Grace chose to change her name.

Grace and I looked through 1000 names. Narrowed it down to 13 that she liked the sound of. We looked up the definition of each name and she chose her name based on the person she wants to be.

Grace means “a good person who is kind to others”

Ruby (middle name 1) means “passion”

Chloe (middle name 2) means “blooming, or growing”

I’m proud of the names she chose to live into.

Grace wants to be a kind person who is nice to others, who is passionate about what she does and is always trying to grow and get better.

One thing I do when researching a sermon is look into the names of the characters because in the bible a person’s name tells a lot about who they are.

Barnabas (son of encouragement) - traveled with and encouraged Paul during the first missionary journey

Daniel (God is my judge) - that played out in the Lion’s den

David (beloved) - the man after God’s own heart

Job (persecuted) - very true as Satan tested his faith

It was also very common for names to be changed in the bible to give people a fresh start and speak to who they were becoming.

Abram (to exalt - the bible says He believed in the Lord and it was credited as righteousness) - Abraham (Father of Many Nations)

Jacob (Holder of the heel / supplanter - stealing birth rights from brother Esau) - Isreal (wrestles with God)

Saul (asked for - referencing Saul the first king of Israel - the ideal Israelite) - Paul (humble)

Simon (to hear / to listen - which didn’t match Peter’s speak first, think second personality) - Peter (stone / rock)

Naomi (pleasant) - Marah (bitter - after her husband and sons died)

WE - Tension

Do you know what your name means?

Do you know why your parents chose the name they did for you?

If you have kids, how did you choose the names you did for them?

Has the meaning of your name at all guided who you became and the character you developed?

Our names and the names of Biblical characters are interesting, but throughout this series I want to spend some time, not focusing on the names of Biblical characters, but looking at the various names attributed to God. I want to look at what the various names the bible uses for God can teach us about

who God is

help us get a look into God’s character

and as image bearers of God himself, learn about who we were created to be and what we were created for

This week I want to look at the very first name of God that we’ve given in the bible: Elohim.

As we begin, please turn with me to [Genesis 1: Sanctuary Bible Page # 1]

We’ll have the scripture on the screen, but if you have a Bible with you, or Bible app on your phone, I’d encourage you to turn to the passage and follow along. There is nothing that replaces having God’s word in your hand.

AND... if you don’t have a Bible, we have Bibles under the seats. If you don’t have a bible and would like one, please come see me after the service and I’ll get you one you can keep.

Let's dive in.

GOD - Text

Elohim - All powerful creator and sustainer

I think we need to start at the very beginning.

Genesis 1:1 NIV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Hebrew word used here for God is ELOHIM.

In fact, in the 31 verse of Genesis 1, the word Elohim is used 32 times to describe God as the all powerful creator.

In the Old Testament the name Elohim is used for God 2,570 times.

If we look up the meaning of the name Elohim, the bible dictionary says this:

Scripture communicates God’s all-powerful nature through multiple dimensions—His creative authority, His sovereignty over circumstances, and His transcendence beyond human limitation.

God (Elohim) is the all powerful creator of everything.

Over time three words have been used to describe God’s limitless power: Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence.

Omnipotent (all powerful)

God possesses unlimited power, capable of doing anything that is logically possible and consistent with His nature.

This aspect of God is throughout the bible.

Jeremiah 32:17 NIV

17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Job 42:2 NIV

2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Matthew 19:26 NIV

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So if you ever think that things are so bad that there is no hope of life getting better, remember that we serve an all-powerful God. That for Him, nothing is too difficult.

He can create, sustain, and govern everything from the tiniest cell to the largest galaxy.

Omniscient (all knowing)

God has perfect, complete, and exhaustive knowledge of everything—past, present, and future.

Psalm 139:1–6 NIV

1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Isaiah 46:9–10 NIV

9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

Psalm 147:5 NIV

5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

So if you ever feel like nobody understands what you’re going through, remember that God knows everything.

God knows your past, your present, and your future.

God knows your thoughts, motivations, and desires. And God knows what is best for you.

Omnipresent (everywhere)

God is present in every place at every moment, not confined by space or time.

Jeremiah 23:24 NIV

24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.

Proverbs 15:3 NIV

3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

Hebrews 4:13 NIV

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

So if you ever feel alone, like nobody cares, know that God is always with you, always ready to comfort you when you’re hurting, and convict you when you need direction

James Webb Telescope

What I find interesting about God as the all powerful creator, is the battle between science and religion.

Science advocates for the “big bang”. Science now has shown that there was a start to the universe, but science can’t acknowledge that it was started by an all powerful God.

Yet, as science advances, we find out that the bible is proven correct over and over.

I just saw an update on the James Webb Space Telescope.

[Picture: James Webb Space Telescope]

If you’re not familiar this is the telescope that replaced the Hubble, it is much more powerful and can see much farther away than the Hubble could.

It was taking “Deep Field” images to confirm what Science predicted about the very beginning of the universe.

Quick caveat, I’m not trying to debate here the age of the universe. Not even Christians can agree on that, nor do I think that is the main point of the bible.

Science currently predicts the universe is 13.8 billion years old.

The James Webb Space Telescope can take pictures of stars and galaxies 100 million years after their predicted creation.

That may seem like a long time, but compared to 13.8 billion years, 100 million it is incredibly close to the start.

The interesting part of the finding, was that even at 100 million years from the “big bang” there were fully developed galaxies and black holes.

Here are some of the images the James Webb Space Telescope took

[Picture: JWST DF - 1]

[Picture: JWST DF - 2]

[Picture: JWST DF - 3]

The models that physics currently use, says that this is not possible.

The time required for the big bang to occur, gasses to cool, gasses to settle into halos, the gas collapsing, igniting, and forming stars, and the amount of time for those starts to burn to form galaxies should be far longer than 100 million years.

On top of that black holes form only after stars run out of fuel and their own gravity crushes them onto themselves.

Here is the current understanding of the life cycle of a star.

[Picture: JWST DF - Star Life Cycle]

For perspective our sun is predicted to have been burning for 4.6 billion years, and should last another 5 billion years before it starts it’s collapse.

This makes me think, that if fully formed galaxies and black holes existed from the very beginning of creation, there would have had to be an all powerful creator that created them from the very start???

Elohim - Covenant Keeper

But, God is not the ELOHIM (all powerful) God that creates everything and abandons it.

ELOHIM also means that we serve a God that makes and keeps His covenants.

Just to make sure we’re all on the same page a covenant is different than a promise or contract.

A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties rooted in relationship.

Promises can be made by one party.

Contracts are void of relationship.

Marriage is an example of a covenant.

God (Elohim) is a COVENANT KEEPING God.

God didn’t just create everything and and leave

God created everything for a purpose

God desires a relationship with His creation

Exodus 6:7 NIV

7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

Throughout the bible God has established many covenants with his people

Noahic - never again destroy the earth

Abrahamic - make Abraham into a great nation and blessed the world through him

Mosaic - 10 commandments to Israel

Priestly / Aaronic - Established Aaron and his family line as priests

Davidic - establishing a royal dynasty through David’s family line leading to Jesus

New Covenant - A deeper personal relationship with God Himself through Jesus

The unique things about Christianity, is that we serve a God that seeks a relationship with His creation. Other faiths require you to DO enough to earn the god’s favor. The God we serve, the ELOHIM God that we serve, pursues you, wants a relationship with you, and won’t give up on you, no matter how far you have strayed or how far you currently are from where He created you to be.

YOU - Takeaway

Elohim - Personal

But the ELOHIM God we serve isn’t just all powerful, doesn’t just want a relationship with humanity as a whole, He wants a relationship with you specifically.

God (Elohim) is a PERSONAL God.

God created you - Psalm 139:13-15

Psalm 139:13–15 NIV

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

God uniquely created you exactly as you are.

He created you for a purpose and has plans for you.

You are not an accident, you are the product of a loving God.

God sees you / knows everything about you - Psalm 139:16

Psalm 139:16 NIV

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

God not only knows everything, He knows everything about you

He knows your past, your present, and the plans He has for your future

God chose you / called you into His family / Adopted you - Ephesians 1:3-6

Ephesians 1:3–6 NIV

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Knowing everything about you, God loves you, and God chose you.

God wants to adopt you into His family through the work of His son Jesus on the cross (Justification)

God loves you and wants to spend eternity with you

Wants you redeem you - Isaiah 43:1-3

Isaiah 43:1–3 NIV

1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

That means that God wants to redeem every past mistake you’ve made.

God wants to take every wrong in your life and make it right through the work of the Holy Spirit (sanctification)

God loves you as you are, but loves you too much to leave you there

God is worthy of your trust - Abraham - Romans 4:19-21

Romans 4:19–21 NIV

19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Just like He did with Abraham, God will do as He promises.

It doesn’t matter how crazy or improbable the promise sounds, God will follow through.

God can be trusted.

WE / JESUS - Redemptive Close - Call to Action

But the ELOHIM God that we serve is not just the all-powerful creator of everything that wants a relationship with his people, and a relationship with you.

The final dimension of the name ELOHIM speaks to a deeper truth about God.

The word ELOHIM is plural.

This is where the concept of the TRINITY comes from.

The concept of the trinity is hard to grasp. It is the concept that we serve a single God who is three persons. Each unique, but still one.

Here is the visual that has been used to help explain it.

[Picture: Trinity]

Elohim - Plural

The concept of the trinity (three in one nature of the single God that we serve) is throughout the bible

Genesis 1:26 NIV

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Genesis 3:22 NIV

22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

And yet, even with these plural description of God...

Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

I think it is easy to think that the Father is the God of the Old Testament.

Jesus is the God of the Gospels.

The Holy Spirit is the God of the rest of the New Testament and the church.

But...the bible shows that all three person’s of the trinity were there from the beginning.

Holy Spirit

There from the beginning of time

Genesis 1:1–2 NIV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Jesus

Also there from the beginning.

John 1:1 NIV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

This WORD was Jesus.

The name Elohim represents not only the triune God, the all-powerful creator of the universe but also the sustaining presence of God who desires a personal relationship with all His creations, reflecting His glory in every detail of life.

The personal nature of Elohim inspires me to

worship Him as the only one worthy of my praise

trust in His creative design for humanity as a whole

embrace my God-given identity and purpose

We serve an all-powerful God that created everything from nothing

We serve a God that is not distant, but that seeks a relationship with his creation

We serve a God that is personal, creating each and every one of us with a unique purpose and plan for our lives

We serve a triune God who Created us with a plan (Father), saved us from our sins (Son), and sanctifies us (Holy Spirit) - helping us have a more Christ-like character

We serve a God that can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

We serve the only God that is worthy of our praise and as a church this is the God that we should be eager to share with the rest of the world.

PRAYER 

Will you join me in prayer...

SONG 

As we enter into our final song, I want to open the steps up front as an altar to anyone who needs God this week. The steps are open for you to pray to the God who is with you, who loves you, you wants to give you His peace.

‌

You may feel a hand on your shoulder as I or one of the elders join you in prayer.

BENEDICTION 

Deuteronomy 32:39 NIV

39 “See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.

This week...

Let’s take some time and really consider who God really is

Let’s remember what it means to serve an ELOHIM God

An all powerful, all knowing, unconstrained by time or space God who created everything from nothing

A God that didn’t just create everything, but wants a relationship with His creation and can be trusted to keep His covenants

A God that doesn’t just want a relationship with creation, but pursues you, loves you, and knowing everything about you wants a relationship with you

Let’s fall to our knees and praise the only God, who is truly worthy of our praise - ELOHIM

Quick reminder...

Digging Deeper Bible Study - Wednesday at 6 PM - Programming for all ages

January 17th @ 9 AM - Pancakes and Pajamas - Youth Fundraiser for summer camp

January 25th @ 5 PM - Town Hall

Wedding this afternoon - the family is coming to decorate at noon, so please feel free to hang out after service, but if you could respect the family and head to lunch before noon, that would be appreciated.

If you’re new, please fill out the card in the seat back and stop by our info desk, or see me. We’d love to say “hi” and get you know you a bit better.

If you’d like to get more information about taking your next step of faith, fill out the card and give it to me or turn it in to the info desk.

I hope you have a great week.

Go in peace.

You are dismissed.

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS (download into APP)

Why do you think your name is important, and how does it shape your identity?

How does understanding the name 'Elohim' affect your perception of God’s power in your life?

What does it mean for you personally that God is all-powerful and always present in your life?

In what ways can the knowledge of God’s omniscience bring you comfort in times of uncertainty?

Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence during a challenging moment. How does that relate to the concept of an omnipresent God?

How does knowing God is a covenant-keeping God change how you view His promises in your life?

What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Elohim as a personal God?

In what ways can you trust God’s creative plan for your future when faced with uncertainty?

How can understanding God’s desire for a relationship with you influence your everyday decisions?

How can you remind yourself daily that you are uniquely created with purpose in God’s design?