Church Quote by J. Gordon Melton
“It might work in the short term, but it's not going to keep the people who hop from congregation to congregation. Church is about one's relationship with God and one's relationship with people. The gimmick may attract you for the moment, but it's the substance that will hold you there.”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: Evangelical Conference, 2018
Short‑term gimmicks attract, but lasting community needs deep spiritual and relational substance.
In simple terms: Quick tricks draw attention, but deep connections keep people.
Key Takeaway
Focus on lasting relationships and meaning.
Themes
community
faith
substance
gimmick
retention
Mood
hopeful
serious
Type
motivational
theological
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- small group ministries
- faith formation
Key Concepts
spiritual depth
relationships
authenticity
long‑term commitment
Questions to Reflect On
- What core values can you highlight to sustain members?
- How can you measure spiritual depth?
A Different Perspective
Gimmicks may work for some audiences.
![“I think it[3D] should be used as a new artistic form, not as a gimmick, not to impress you but the existence of an environment that you view as a theatrical dramatic experience is - you don't just have the X-Y axis, you have the Z and that makes a difference. You still have the framing, you still…” quote by Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e8c/ang-lee-2496_art_i-think-it-3d-should-be-used-as-a-new-ar_313718.jpg)
![“T]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people - the new covenant, blood-bought people of God. That's why Paul said, 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her' (Eph. 5:25). He didn't give himself up for a…” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a4/mark-dever-3175_blood_t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-bu_3297.jpg)
