I really wanted to like this book, but I had a hard time following along. It did help me a little bit understanding that what we think about ourselves and others influences the way we look at God.

With thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love JMC’s books. I finish them quickly because they are so easy to read and understand, but I love going to back to reread (sometimes several times) slowly because they are so deep and powerful.

God Has a Name was one of the foundational books for me in how I thought about God and some deep theological thinking when it originally released in 2017. John Mark has returned to this book with some cosmetic updates, and a brand new ending to not end simply with an inspiration to go and be like God in His true character, but to contemplate--to gaze at God as He gazes back at us in love.

God Has a Name is a deep, thoughtful, searching read for followers of Jesus. It challenges the thought of God's character and His very nature in ways the church has hardly turned to nor addressed. I've yet to find a writing of such depth on this topic. Read slowly and with an open heart and mind, and let the nature of God's revelation transform you as you sit with Him.

God Has a Name is a deeper look into who God is. John Mark Comer does an excellent job of keeping the tone light-hearted, even while dealing with heavy topics. relating to Christianity. I enjoyed the content of this book, but I did not enjoy the structure in which it was written. It read less like a book and almost more like an email or blog post. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with the format of the e-arc on my kindle, but it was frustrating enough to impact my opinion of this book.

Three things I loved about God Has a Name by John Mark Comer:

1. I LEARNED so much about God and His word!
2. Even though it was deep, the text was relatable and easy to understand.
3. It lingers: one of the best signs of a good book is whether it stays with me after I've read it. This book does! I'm glad I can go back and reread the highlighted sections to continue absorbing what I learned!

While I read this on my own, this book would be great to read with a small group of friends who want to learn about the Bible.
It changed the way I understand key verses and I am so grateful!

There's a reason that John Mark Comer's books are so popular. He perfectly blends an approachable writing style, a nonjudgemental tone, commitment to Biblical truth, and willingness to follow Jesus even when it's difficult.

'God Has a Name' centers around the description of Yahweh's character in Exodus 34:6-8. If you have any questions about who God really is, or want to be able to answer this question when nonbelievers ask you, then I recommend that you read this book!

Special thanks to the Publisher, Nelson Books, and Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

John Mark Comer is easily my favourite Christian author so I may be biased when I say how good this book is!

It is not my favorite as his as it is much more theological-focused than my favourites (The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry being one). Still, I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about God and His nature.

I have always appreciated John Mark Comer's writing style. It is organized and to the point while still beautifully written. Despite it being very scriptural and theological, he provides practical advice on implementing what you learn in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Nelson Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley & Thomas Nelson books for the advance reader copy.

I always enjoy books by John Mark Comer and this one did not disappoint. I read the original edition of this book a couple of years ago. The second time around with this expanded edition was just as enjoyable.

God Has a Name takes you step by step through the scripture Exodus 34:6-7 in order to describe exactly who God is. I most enjoyed Mr. Comer’s breakdown of the meaning of Hebrew in this scripture as well as the breakdown/interpretation of the last-and sort of scary-line in verse 7.

And if you at times wonder how a God who is Love can exist while there is also so much chaos, violence and evil in the world, then this book is for you.

This new and updated edition contains a chapter on contemplation that is not to be missed. Mr. Comer gives a simple explanation of what exactly this centuries old practice is as well as explaining how to start a contemplative practice.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about God and His defining characteristics.

I'm always a fan of John Mark Comer's work. I appreciately the breakdown of Exodus 34, and how much it appears throughout scripture and then the rest of the book is showcasing how we are to become like God in acting out those character traits of faithfulness, abounding love, forgiveness. This new edition has the section that is more applicable, which is what someone of my generation loves--we love pragmatism and this new edition gives actionable steps with an introduction to contemplation. I would have loved to hear testimonies of people who have practiced contemplation in the three ways Comer mentions, but all in all a great read for someone who is looking to discover and understand the character of God.

In this second edition of Comer’s 2017 book, Comer adds a piece on contemplation to the discussion of discovering who God really is. The book explores a passage in Exodus with an easy-to-read format that includes historical context, the connection to Jesus, insightful Hebrew translations, and applications for Christians today. Whether the reader is Christian or not or even agrees with every statement put forth by Comer, the book is worth reading to consider God’s character and how that means everything to the relationship.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

God Has a Name by John Mark Comer is a book on God having a name, and just how often we (believers and unbelievers alike) do not consider this, do not consider exactly who God is. This book is great at bringing into light what is so often in our hearts: that we want to make God like our own image, what we want and who we want him to be. He does this through looking at the passage in Exodus 34:6-7 and looking at what does God say about Himself in that passage.

God Has a Name is a good and important book, though I have liked other books by John Mark Comer better. With this book, I felt like Comer kept it too shallow at times, using too much wit and quips throughout the text and that took away from the seriousness of the topic. But I am glad that he approached the topic and brought light into an important passage of Scripture.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I read John Mark Comer’s GOD HAS A NAME: WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT GOD WILL SHAPE WHO YOU BECOME, not realizing that it is a Second Edition version of a 2017 spiritual favorite. Too new to say a spiritual classic, but old enough to have a thoughtful Epilogue with new material on Contemplation.

The book is a pastoral examination of Exodus 34:4-7, God’s self-revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai. Comer writes in a warm, welcoming, conversational style and adds interesting bits along the way. He frequently begins a section with the Hebrew words and phrases used in the original and tries to expand their meanings beyond the usual translations. And he generally concludes each chapter by applying YHWH’s self-defined traits, (“compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” and so forth) to God’s fullest self-disclosure in Jesus.

I have to admit I am often guilty of the error that Comer identifies: a desire to create God according to my personal druthers. But can’t all believers can come together in appreciating Comer’s Epilogue for its greater acknowledgment (it seemed to me) of the unfathomable mystery that is God, available in contemplative prayer?

With thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thought provoking, brimming with humility, God Has a Name brings the heart of the matter to mind as John Mark Comer explores with us the true character of our God, and his most important traits. Have we distanced ourselves from a being desiring our closest friendship by refusing to name him? By not seeing him for who he has declared himself to be?
Comer leads us on a journey to see what God has to say when asked about who he is, and to let go of ideas and doctrines that may have lead us further away from the one who desires us so deeply. He shows us the threads of YHWH's character, woven throughout the entire Bible, and outlines where apostles, prophets, and kings are using the very words of God to describe him and glory in his goodness. Urging us to see where our own imperfect families and relationships can shape the way we see a loving Father, he reveals to us a whole and loving image, and shows us how to further engage with this Heavenly Father as a being, and not a stiff image, distant and uncaring, or worse, constantly wrathful and condemning.
The truth is that the heart of YHWH's religion was the mercy seat, not the judgment seat, and that his compassion and faithfulness will long outlast us and our imperfections as we strive to return to him. He is far more good than we could imagine, and his desire, even today, is to reach every heart that was once severed from him.
Beautiful and searching, I could not recommend this work highly enough. Even though I have been blessed to be a believer since birth, I have come to see more and more of the nature and love of our Father through it. I will not hesitate to find my own copy upon publication and share with others who feel that the idea of God that is preached to them is distant and lacking.

"God Has a Name", by John Mark Comer, is the newest Bible study by Comer. In this book, Comer asks his readers what they really think about God and asserts that their answer to that question is the most important thing about them. I enjoyed the portion of the book about prayer, specifically when he quotes this passage by Dallas Willard: "God's response to our prayers is not a charade. He does not pretend that he is answering our prayer when he is only doing what he was going to do anyway. Our requests really do make a difference in what God does or does not do. The idea that everything would happen exactly as it does regardless of whether we pray or not is a specter that haunts the minds of many who sincerely profess belief in God. It makes prayer psychologically impossible, replacing it with dead ritual at best. And of course God does not respond to this. You wouldn't either."

I thought this was a good book for anyone looking to known more about God. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

“So God has a name. And just to clarify, it’s not God. It’s Yahweh.”

“Jesus came and lived and died and rose from the grave to make the kind of relationship he and Moses had with Yahweh available to everybody.”

“Everywhere you go…In all that you do…You are called by the name of Yahweh. And it’s a really good name.”

I really enjoyed my first book by John Mark Comer. Any book that breaks down Scripture catches my attention and this book that breaks down Exodus 34:4-7 is no exception. I definitely learned a lot in only 6 chapters of Comer’s book, which is packed with Hebrew translation, interesting stories, ties it to Jesus, and then helps us apply it to our lives. No matter where we are in our Christian walk, it’s an amazing reminder that God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin…and even the part where he doesn’t leave the guilty unpunished all the way to the 3rd and 4th generation. Comer does an excellent job explaining it with an emphasis on how God’s mercy will always outweigh the justice for our sins. There were some random things he said I wasn’t 100% on board with - not saying he is wrong, I just need to unpack it more and think/pray more on it. But overall, very good and I would read another one by him.

* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*