It was a number of years ago that 8-year-old Whitney stopped me in the church hallway. With hands on hips she said, “Preacher, you need to wear your seatbelt!”

The two major reasons given for terminations are church leadership conflicts and declining memberships. In many cases, the minister is like the coach with a losing season who has lost support.

I suppose it’s the modern equivalent of “You kids get off my lawn.” I’ve heard of “mask-shaming” in recent months but didn’t experience it until last week.

Jacob said, I have enough. When was the last time you heard someone say this? If you did, it would probably be from someone who we felt had nothing to start with.

I do miss the community worship services we had years ago. In several places we’ve lived, the churches had interdenominational Thanksgiving services.

Every year, believers and unbelievers celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ without thinking about the sign given by God for deliverance from our sins. 

To a world of exclusion where petty men build walls of restriction, the message of Christmas comes: salvation is available to all people. 

The innkeeper is a good example for us because we all need to offer what we have to Christ.

I suppose it’s true that the church has had several issues thrust upon us in recent years without an invitation. The most disturbing is the abuse of children. 

Sometimes, over-ministering (nagging) can push a person away. Sometimes, we need to let a situation develop, to “ripen up.”

Salvation is a personal experience. Jesus said in John 3, “ye must be born again.” Each and every one of us will be accountable to God for what we do with Jesus Christ. 

We’re happy when anyone comes to faith, no matter the road they travel.

Health concerns are causing congregations to re-imagine how they partake the Lord’s Supper. Different congregations approach it differently, but we ought to be mindful of several points.

Christians are prone to casually claim “we forgive and forget.” I agree with a number of Bible teachers I’ve heard who say this is impossible. 

All believers understand that nothing happens outside of God’s governing. However, within God’s governing, he causes some things and permits others. 

Reflections is a weekly devotional column written by Michael J. Brooks, pastor of the Siluria Baptist Church in Alabaster. The church's website is siluriabaptist.com.

Millions of people belong to churches, but you can belong to a church and not know the Savior, Jesus Christ. 

We’re prone to grow discouraged and label something a failure, forgetting God specializes in the salvage business.

We have the certain knowledge that one day we will give an account of our lives to the Lord. That should motivate us to be faithful in obeying His commands in every area of our lives.

The apostle Paul exhorted Christians in Romans 13 to obey the government as God's "deacon," or servant, who punishes evil and upholds the good. 

Some say Halloween is the "devil's night" and refuse to participate or let their children participate. Others say it's a harmless night of fun and see no problem with it.