“Church” translates the Greek word, ekklesia, which means “assembly” or “congregation.” Universal and assembly are mutually exclusive. There is no universal church, because nothing universal ever assembles. Assembly by nature is local, even definitional. Does that mean that the assembly of Jesus Christ, His church, is only an assembly when it gathers? No. Even when you are in your home and on livestream, you are the assembly. The assembly must assemble, which is why Acts 14:17 says, “gathered the church together.” The church is already the church before it gathers together though. It’s also more than just an assembly. It is an assembly of baptized or immersed believers in Jesus Christ, not just any assembly. In 1 Corinthians 11:18, speaking of the Lord’s Table, Paul says, “when ye come together in the church.” If the church was only a church when it was meeting, then the church could not “come together.” It would be already together.  If it must come together, then it is the church already, before it comes together. That doesn’t mean the church is invisible. Each member is visible. Each visible member comes together into a visible assembly. The church is the church members in a particular locale, who do assemble. If the church didn’t assemble, it wouldn’t be a church, but it is still the church on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday when it isn’t assembling. Acts 8:1, the church is scattered. It is still a church, when it is scattered. We are scattered right now, not in disobedience.