Philemon 1: ¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, ² to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: ³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

What gets my attention this morning is v.2 “and to the church in your house”. Notice the house itself isn’t the church, but the church gathers in Philemon’s house. The church is the gathered body of believers, not a building. Covid time has forced us to remember this important point. In fact, our new reality is that the majority of people who currently participate in our church (worship, bible study, life group, youth activities, and more) do so online rather than in-person.

This new reality stretches our notions of what it means to be “the church”. This is both challenging and exciting! Lord Jesus teach us to align our thinking with our new reality. Show us what it means – now – to be your church. We ask this in your holy name. Amen.