The ground of the church is not the foundation of the church. The foundation of
the church is Christ. “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ” (I Cor. 3:11). The ground is completely different from the foundation. The
foundation is a basic and integral part of the construction of a building, whereas the
ground is not. The ground is a piece of land, called the site, upon which the foundation is
laid. It is not part of the construction, but simply a lot upon which the construction is
placed. We must not mistake the ground for the foundation or the foundation for the
ground. They are two vital, yet distinct entities for the construction of a building.
Although the foundation may be deeply embedded in the ground, it is still distinct and
separate from it. The ground is the standing on which the foundation is laid.
–Witness Lee