“Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home.” (Romans 16:3-5 NLT).
In Paul’s letter to the Roman believers, he gave greetings to the church that met in the home of Aquila and Priscilla. In those days there were no church buildings, so the church met in homes or in public meeting facilities, such as the Hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus (See Acts 19:9-10).
Paul had met Aquila and Priscilla in the city of Corinth on his second missionary journey. They were Jewish tentmakers who had moved from Rome to Corinth after Claudius Caesar deported the Jews (Acts 18:1-3). Paul, who also knew the tentmaking trade, lived and worked with them in Corinth, where they became his disciples and life-long friends. Apparently, after the death of Claudius, Aquila and Priscilla had returned to their home in Rome. It was to this couple, and to the church that met in their home, that Paul sent greetings.
When we confuse the church with the building, we stop being the church on mission. We stop being the church on the move. It is important to remember that the church is the people, not the steeple. As followers of Christ, we don’t go to church. We are the church.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for grafting us into the body of Christ, which is the church. Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit that we might glorify You today. We begin our day and desire to fill and end our day in continuous worship. For we are the church, the temple where You have chosen to abide. We surrender our bodies afresh to You as living sacrifices. Lead, guide and direct us to Your service today. In Jesus’ name, amen.