Archive for September 12, 2012
Sep 12
Exultant Description: Ascribing Glory to God in Prayer
In Sunday’s sermon, “The Growing Crescendo of God’s Praise,” Ryan unfolded Psalm 96, a psalm that calls on God’s people to praise God over a dozen different ways.
One of the ways that we’re told to praise God is through exultant description. For example, in verses 7-8 we’re told to “ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.”
To encourage us in this, Ryan mentioned a list of God’s attributes alphabetically listed in a book called, Prayer Coach. In the appendix of this book, there’s a section titled, “A to Z of Biblical Names, Titles, and Attributes of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” The book is available online or at our newly refreshed Resource Center, opening this Sunday. This is a great tool for ascribing to God glory in our prayers.
Here’s an example from the letter A:
- Able (Dan. 3:17; Matt. 9:28; Rom. 16:25; 2 Cor. 9:8; Eph. 3:20; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25)
- Abounding in love and faithfulness (Ex. 34:6)
- Adam, the last (1 Cor. 15:45)
- Advocate (Job 16:19; 1 John 2:1)
- All (Col. 3:11)
- Almighty, the (Job 5:17)
- Alpha (Rev. 1:8, 21:6)
- Amen, the (Rev. 3:14)
- Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:22)
- Anointed One (Psa. 2:2; Acts 4:27)
- Apostle and high priest (Heb. 3:1)
- Architect and builder (Heb. 11:10)
- Atoning sacrifice (2 John 2:2)
- Author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2)
- Avenger (2 Sam. 22:48; Psa. 94:1)
- Awesome (Ex. 15:11; Neh. 1:5; Dan. 9:4)
Another church that caught on to this great idea published this list in Pdf form for printing as a tri-fold pamphlet. Click here for a Pdf of the list of attributes found at the end of Prayer Coach.