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Book Structure: Meeting Structure for Lord's Supper and Participatory Worship

Project Title (Working)

Section titled “Project Title (Working)”

“When You Come Together: Structuring Christian Meetings to Honor the Lord’s Supper and Enable Mutual Edification”

Or:

“Breaking Bread and Building Up: A Biblical Framework for Meeting Structure”

Author

Section titled “Author”

Tim Uy

Professional author and researcher

Part 1: Executive Summary (2-3 pages TL;DR)

Section titled “Part 1: Executive Summary (2-3 pages TL;DR)”

Purpose: Quick reference summary of findings and recommendations

Contents:

  1. The Question
  2. The Framework (SCAR Quadrilateral)
  3. Key Findings (from each component)
  4. Proposed Solution
  5. Practical Recommendations
  6. Conclusion: Love and Unity as Ultimate Priority

See: [[TLDR-What-to-Consider|TL;DR: What to Consider When Structuring Meetings]]

Part 2: Main Analysis (Using SCAR Quadrilateral)

Section titled “Part 2: Main Analysis (Using SCAR Quadrilateral)”

Chapter 1: Scripture

Section titled “Chapter 1: Scripture”

Question: What does the Bible say about meeting structure, Lord’s Supper, and participatory worship?

Key Passages:

  • 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (Lord’s Supper)
  • 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 (Participatory worship - “each one has”)
  • Acts 2:42-47 (Daily breaking of bread)
  • Acts 20:7 (Breaking bread on first day)
  • Hebrews 10:24-25 (Mutual exhortation)
  • Ephesians 5:19-20 (Mutual participation)
  • Colossians 3:16 (Teaching and admonishing one another)

Key Questions:

  • Are 1 Corinthians 11 and 14 describing the same meeting or different meetings?
  • What is the relationship between Lord’s Supper and participatory worship?
  • Is there biblical precedent for separating or integrating these?

See: [[01-Chapter-Scripture|Chapter 1: Scripture]]

Chapter 2: Christocentrism

Section titled “Chapter 2: Christocentrism”

Question: How does Jesus inform our understanding of meeting structure?

Key Considerations:

  • Jesus’s institution of the Lord’s Supper (Last Supper)
  • Jesus’s teaching on community and mutual service
  • The Last Supper as Passover meal (but what it actually shows)
  • Jesus’s emphasis on “remembering” and “doing this”
  • Jesus’s command to love one another (John 13:34-35)
  • Jesus’s prayer for unity (John 17:20-23)
  • What the Bible actually shows (Paul talking until midnight, Agabus)
  • Early church fathers on Jesus’s teachings

See: [[02-Chapter-Christocentrism|Chapter 2: Christocentrism]]

Chapter 3: Pauline Analysis

Section titled “Chapter 3: Pauline Analysis”

Question: What did Paul teach about meeting structure?

Key Considerations:

  • 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (Lord’s Supper)
  • 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 (Participatory worship - “each one has”)
  • Ephesians 5:19-20 (Mutual participation)
  • Colossians 3:16 (Teaching and admonishing one another)
  • Hebrews 10:24-25 (Mutual exhortation)
  • Acts 20:7 (Paul’s practice - extended teaching)
  • Paul’s balance: Order and participation
  • Love as the foundation

See: [[03-Chapter-Pauline-Analysis|Chapter 3: Pauline Analysis]]

Chapter 4: Antiquity (Pre-325 AD)

Section titled “Chapter 4: Antiquity (Pre-325 AD)”

Question: How did the early church structure meetings with Lord’s Supper and participatory worship?

Key Sources:

  • Pliny the Younger (c. 112 AD) - Two meetings: before dawn and later meal
  • Justin Martyr (c. 150 AD) - Sunday meeting structure: reading, exhortation, prayer, Eucharist
  • Tertullian (c. 197 AD) - Agape feast with participatory elements
  • Didache (c. 50-120 AD) - Thanksgiving prayers, prophets
  • Hippolytus (c. 215 AD) - Apostolic Tradition, meeting structure
  • Acts 2:42-47 - Daily breaking of bread with teaching and fellowship

See: [[04-Chapter-Antiquity|Chapter 4: Antiquity]]

Chapter 5: Reality (Modern Examples)

Section titled “Chapter 5: Reality (Modern Examples)”

Question: How do modern groups structure meetings to honor both Lord’s Supper and participatory worship?

Groups Examined:

  1. Plymouth Brethren
  2. Shield of Faith Mission International (SFMI)
  3. Shield of Faith Fellowship
  4. House Church Movements
  5. NTRF, Restoration Movement, Anabaptist groups

See: [[05-Chapter-Reality|Chapter 5: Reality]]

Chapter 6: Synthesis and Proposed Solution

Section titled “Chapter 6: Synthesis and Proposed Solution”

Bringing Together All Four Components:

Areas of Agreement:

  • Both Lord’s Supper and participatory worship are biblical
  • Both reverence and mutual edification are needed
  • Structure and order are important
  • Flexibility within biblical boundaries
  • Love and unity must be the ultimate priority

Proposed Solution:

  • Two-Part Meeting Model (Recommended)
  • Separate Meetings Model (Alternative)
  • Integrated with Guidelines Model (Alternative)
  • Sequential Structure Model (Alternative)

Practical Recommendations:

  • Guidelines for each model
  • How to implement
  • Addressing common challenges
  • Maintaining both reverence and participation
  • Ensuring love and unity are preserved

See: [[06-Chapter-Synthesis-and-Proposed-Solution|Chapter 6: Synthesis and Proposed Solution]]

Chapter 7: Conclusion - Love and Unity

Section titled “Chapter 7: Conclusion - Love and Unity”

The Ultimate Priority:

  • Jesus’s command: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34-35)
  • Jesus’s prayer: “That they may all be one” (John 17:20-23)
  • Without love, nothing else matters (1 Corinthians 13)
  • Structure serves love and unity, not the other way around

Implications:

  • Love must guide all decisions about meeting structure
  • Unity must be preserved even when disagreeing about structure
  • Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)
  • The ultimate test: Does it promote love and unity?

Future Research Directions:

  • What we have learned so much, but there is so much more
  • Questions that remain unanswered
  • Further directions for research and practice
  • Acknowledgment that the study is never truly finished
  • Invitation to continue the journey together

See: [[Conclusion-Love-and-Unity|Conclusion: Love and Unity - The Most Important Thing]]

Part 3: Appendices (Original Sources)

Section titled “Part 3: Appendices (Original Sources)”

Appendix A: Scripture Passages (Complete)

Section titled “Appendix A: Scripture Passages (Complete)”
  • 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (full text)
  • 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 (full text)
  • Acts 2:42-47 (full text)
  • Acts 20:7-12 (full text)
  • John 13:34-35 (Love command)
  • John 17:20-23 (Unity prayer)
  • 1 Corinthians 13 (Love chapter)
  • Other relevant passages

Appendix B: Early Church Fathers (Complete Quotes)

Section titled “Appendix B: Early Church Fathers (Complete Quotes)”
  • Pliny the Younger - Letter to Trajan
  • Justin Martyr - First Apology (Chapters 66-67)
  • Tertullian - Apology (Agape feast)
  • Didache - Relevant sections
  • Hippolytus - Apostolic Tradition
  • Other early sources

Appendix C: Modern Group Documents

Section titled “Appendix C: Modern Group Documents”
  • Brethren sources and quotes
  • SFMI Conference Orientation Script (complete)
  • Other modern examples

Appendix D: Historical Analysis

Section titled “Appendix D: Historical Analysis”
  • Separation analysis
  • Integration analysis
  • Historical development

Appendix E: Practical Implementation Guides

Section titled “Appendix E: Practical Implementation Guides”
  • Model 1: Integrated Meeting
  • Model 2: Sequential Meeting
  • Model 3: Separate Meetings
  • Model 4: Two-Part Meeting

Appendix F: Additional Resources

Section titled “Appendix F: Additional Resources”
  • Bibliography
  • Further reading
  • Related topics
Section titled “Related Documents”

This project builds on and synthesizes research documents in:

  • [[Resources/Theology/Lord’s Supper and Meetings/|Lord’s Supper and Meetings folder]]

See [[00-Project-Overview|Project Overview]] for complete list of research documents.