Where Two Or Three Gather

Where Two Or Three Gather

Painting: Vashti Graham

Sky photography: Taylor Coleman

Artist Description:

This painting of a small golden church is meant to remind us of something important: the church is not a building; it is the people. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus says, “For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.” His presence is not confined to a building or a location. He is with us when we pray together at home, study Scripture, encourage one another, or simply gather to seek Him.

The warm yellow tones of the church represent the light of Christ shining through His people, not through the building itself. The colorful windows symbolize the beauty of the Church made up of many different believers (people with different stories, personalities, and backgrounds) yet all reflecting the same Savior. The trees surrounding the church represent God’s protection and His presence that surrounds His people wherever they go. The loose brushstrokes are a reminder that the Church is alive, because Scripture describes believers as “living stones… being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). Together, we form the Church.

In the background are clouds stretching across the sky, reminding us that God’s presence is not confined to one place. Just as the sky reaches far beyond what we can see, the Church extends far beyond any single building or congregation. Believers gather in different places, traditions, and denominations across the world, yet Scripture reminds us that we are still united as one body in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). Though we may worship in different ways or locations, we are all part of the same family of faith.

At the same time, it is important to acknowledge something honest about the Church: people are imperfect. Sometimes believers fail each other or cause hurt. My childhood pastor, Dan Lanier, often said, “The church is a hospital for sinners, not a country club for saints.” The Church was never meant to be a place for perfect people. It is a place where broken people come to find healing, forgiveness, and transformation through Jesus.

One person’s failure does not represent all of Christianity, nor does it represent the heart of Christ. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus continually reached out to the hurting, the rejected, and the forgotten. He broke cultural boundaries, showed compassion to those others avoided, and reminded people that the greatest commandments are to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37–39).

The heart of the Church has never been a building, a label, or a denomination. The heart of the Church is Jesus Himself.

May this painting serve as a reminder that the Church is carried in the hearts of believers. Community matters. Faith grows when people walk together, encourage one another, and seek God side by side. Christians may gather in different places, but we are united in Christ.

And whenever even a small group comes together in His name, He is already there.

Scripture References:

Matthew 18:20: Jesus says, “For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.” 

 1 Peter 2:5: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Additional Facts You May Find Interesting:

The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which means “assembly” or “gathering of people.”

Early Christians often met in homes rather than church buildings during the first few centuries.

Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire largely through small gatherings of believers meeting together.

Church buildings did not become common until the 3rd and 4th centuries, after Christianity became more accepted in the Roman Empire.

In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which allowed Christians to worship freely without persecution.

The New Testament describes believers as “living stones” being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5) emphasizing that the church is made of people, not just buildings.

About The Painting:

This painting is a gift to my and Taylor's dear friend, Lauren Williams. The three of us have shared many conversations about faith, and those moments always remind us of the promise in Matthew 18:20, that where two or three gather in His name, He is there with them. I hope this painting is a small reminder of that truth and the encouragement we can find in faith and community.

Taylor chose to collage the sky because she shared that photographing nature reminds her of the beauty of God’s creation and is one of the ways she enjoys spending time with Him.

May this painting serve as a reminder that God’s presence can be found not only in churches, but also in the quiet moments of creation and in the friendships that encourage our faith.