How do we know the New Testament supports shared participation in services?

Throughout the New Testament, passages such as 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and 14:26-31 highlight that a diversity of spiritual gifts is given for the common good, encouraging believers to actively participate in corporate worship. For instance, 1 Corinthians 14:26 instructs that when the church gathers, each member has something to bring—whether a psalm, teaching, or contribution. This affirms that the assembly is not meant to be a spectator event but a collaborative effort where every believer has a role in ministering to one another. The emphasis on 'one another' throughout the New Testament supports this participatory model, indicating that edification within the church is a collective responsibility rather than one centered on a singular figure. Such mutual engagement aligns with the biblical view of the church as a living body where all parts function for the health and growth of the whole.