How can church communities implement the call to "ascribe" in their services? The Call to Ascribe Psalm 29:1-2: “Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.” Psalm 96:7-8 echoes the same imperative. The word “ascribe” carries the idea of openly crediting, attributing, and declaring who God is and what He has done. Shaping the Sunday Gathering • Design every element with one question in mind: “Does this clearly credit God with glory and strength?” • Keep announcements, transitions, and even humor tethered to praising Him rather than spotlighting personalities or programs (1 Corinthians 10:31). • Begin and end services with a direct call to ascribe—Scripture read aloud, not merely paraphrased. Music and Singing • Choose songs saturated with God-focused lyrics: “You are…,” “You have…,” “Yours is….” (Colossians 3:16). • Encourage the congregation to sing out, reminding them they are active participants, not an audience (Psalm 34:3). • Include moments between songs to pause and verbally declare attributes of God (“Lord, You are faithful, just, merciful…”). Testimonies and Declarations • Schedule brief member testimonies that explicitly credit God’s power and grace, steering away from self-promotion (Revelation 12:11). • Use responsive readings: leader states an attribute; congregation responds with a short refrain such as “We ascribe to You glory!” (Psalm 118:1-4). Scripture Reading and Preaching • Public reading of passages that magnify God’s character (Exodus 34:6-7; Isaiah 40:25-31). • Preaching should consistently highlight God’s attributes and works, not merely offer moral lessons (Acts 20:27). • End sermons with a call to worship, inviting hearers to respond in adoration. Sacraments and Ordinances • At the Lord’s Table, verbally acknowledge Christ’s sacrifice as God’s supreme act of redemption (1 Corinthians 11:26). • During baptisms, emphasize God’s saving power and the believer’s union with Christ (Romans 6:3-4). Prayer and Intercession • Open corporate prayers with adoration before requests, modeling Jesus’ pattern (Matthew 6:9-10). • Incorporate scriptural titles for God—“Almighty,” “Redeemer,” “Good Shepherd”—reminding the church of His character. • Encourage moments of silent reflection to personally ascribe glory. Visual and Aesthetic Elements • Scripture banners or projected verses that proclaim who God is (Habakkuk 2:14). • Artwork, colors, and symbols that direct eyes upward, avoiding distractions that center on human achievement. Lifestyle Beyond the Service • Equip members to “ascribe” throughout the week—family devotions, workplace conversations, social media posts (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; 1 Peter 2:9). • Small groups rehearse God’s goodness by sharing weekly “ascriptions” of praise before petitions. • Encourage every ministry team (hospitality, tech, youth) to begin meetings by verbally honoring God’s attributes. When the gathered body consistently credits every good and perfect gift to the Lord (James 1:17), the call to “ascribe” moves from an occasional statement to the sustained heartbeat of the church. |
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