Communion Quote by Ben Witherington III
““Who should serve the Lord’s Supper? Well in the early church, considering Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 11, the host of the home presumably was the host of the meal, and as I have said, really, the Lord is the host at his own table, not any of us. We are all just participants, we are all celebrants. I don’t think there is any biblical warrant for the serving of the Lord’s Supper to be confined to ministers, but I do think that anyone who undertakes such a sacred task should be trained to do it in a respectful manner.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Biblical Studies Seminar, 2019, on Eucharistic practice
The Lord’s Supper is a communal act where all believers, not just clergy, may serve, provided they are respectfully trained.
In simple terms: Everyone can serve the communion table if properly prepared.
Key Takeaway
Encourage respectful, inclusive participation in worship.
Themes
faith
community
service
inclusion
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
theological
educational
When to use this quote
- church services
- small group gatherings
- training sessions
- volunteer ministries
Key Concepts
ecclesiology
ritual practice
leadership training
Questions to Reflect On
- What training best prepares lay participants?
- How can churches balance tradition with inclusive service?
A Different Perspective
Challenges include ensuring proper reverence and avoiding informal handling.
![“[The Lord's Supper teaches that] Rituals are good, and they are instituted and used by God to 'connect' his people with him. We learn through ritual that the church is not just made up of individuals, but is a corporate body. It is not just about personal salvation, but a group of people, the…” quote by Peter Enns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d4f/peter-enns-28232_church_the-lord-s-supper-teaches-that-rituals-a_787566.jpg)
