A building is only as good as its foundations. If the foundations are weak or inadequate, the structure may fail under certain conditions, bringing destruction and loss. Work can be done to strengthen foundations, but it’s a lot easier to build good foundations in the beginning! Human institutions, like physical buildings, have their foundations. They’re built on something, whether it’s the vision for a particular product or service, or to further inflate and promote someone’s ego, or to satisfy human greed, or some other driving force. The Christian Church is no exception, although it is unique in the fact that it's not merely human, but represents a collaboration between God and man. Its foundations were laid by Jesus Christ in the years of His earthly ministry and clearly demonstrated the nature and character of loving community. Through His teachings, healings, and interactions, Jesus modelled a community centred on love, service, and mutual support (John 13:34-35, Matthew 20:28). His example provided a blueprint for the first church to follow, ensuring that their fellowship was grounded in the principles of compassion and unity. If we are members of a Christian community, let us regularly compare our ‘building’ with the relational blueprint of the Gospel records. This will enable us to make whatever changes are required to build our fellowship Jesus’ way.