New Tabernacle Baptist Church

07/20/2026

The Narrow Gate

What’s easier? Lounging on your couch or hiking up a mountain? Scarfing down a candy bar or cooking a healthy meal? Complaining about a problem or working diligently to solve it? Saving your hard-earned money or spending it all in one night?

Just because something is easy doesn’t mean it's what's best.

Jesus knew this. In fact, He often chose the harder road with purpose over an easy one with no meaning. He said:

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Though Jesus beckons the entire world, His invitation is also exclusive. Because all paths, all religions, and all good intentions do not lead to God.

Jesus isn’t implying that we can earn our own salvation by searching the hardest or climbing the highest or praying the longest to find some elusive gate. Instead, Jesus makes it clear in John 10:7, saying, “I am the gate…”

The way to the one true God, the Creator of this world and the Sustainer of your life, is through Jesus Christ—who loves you, gave His life for you, and was raised from the dead so that you could live.

You can’t earn His love or salvation, but you can accept His gift of grace and enter through the narrow gate.

Yes, it’s easier to scroll social media than to think about the deeper meaning of life. It’s easier to stay busy and distracted than to confess and repent of your sins. It’s easier to dismiss God altogether than to trust Him with your soul.

But the harder road is worth it. The narrow gate leads to life, and there is no other way than our Savior, Jesus Christ.

07/03/2026

06/25/2026

Closer Than You Think

In one unsuspecting moment, everything can change.

A relationship can shatter, a dream can suddenly end. Your heart can break for a million different reasons: grief, rejection, loneliness, uncertainty, tragedy, betrayal.

When something terrible happens and the world makes zero sense…

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalm 34:18 NLT

David, the writer of Psalm 34, preached what he lived. He experienced some intense highs and fierce lows, but he recognized God’s presence in the midst of his circumstances. He knew that God was near, and God could change any situation in an instant.

Is your heart broken? Is your spirit crushed?

God is near.
He hasn’t left you to fight for yourself.
He sees you in your heartbreak.
He meets you where you are.
He has not forgotten you.
He has not abandoned you.

This doesn’t mean you won’t face hard things. But even when your mind races and your heart doubts, God offers a peace and an intimacy that cannot be fully explained.

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we now have constant access to God’s presence through His Holy Spirit. There are many places in the Bible where the Holy Spirit is described as the Comforter—ready to soothe, guide, counsel, and encourage.

The comfort we receive from God is a gift from His Spirit who is always with us. So if your heart is breaking and your spirit is crushed, know that you are in good hands. God is near, and He will not abandon you.

Trials and hardships are a part of life, but God has the final say.

Right now, take a few moments to name anything that has crushed your spirit. Then, give yourself permission to just sit in God’s presence for a few moments. When you’re ready, consider memorizing today’s verse and meditating on it throughout your day.

06/24/2026

Suffering Redeemed

Look around and you’ll quickly identify suffering, grief, and injustice. Maybe you’ve experienced some of these things yourself—a difficult season, a profound injustice, or a deep grief.

Suffering rarely makes sense. And the hard truth is: most of our questions regarding suffering will go unanswered at this time. However, Romans 8:18 provides us with a perspective that can help us in seasons of suffering:

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

In this verse, Paul, the author of Romans, points us to the future. All throughout Scripture, God has been working within His people to bring redemption and make things new.

We live in one reality, which includes suffering and grief. But one day, God will return and complete the work He has begun in Jesus. When He returns, Scripture says that all suffering will cease. There will be no more tears, pain, or sickness (Revelation 21:4). At that time, when we join God in heaven, we will be perfected and made whole.

Paul’s encouragement to us is this: persevere through your current season of suffering because what awaits you will be worth waiting for. When God returns and brings us into His presence, we won’t think of the past suffering that we’ve endured. This is why Paul says that our present suffering cannot compare to what will be revealed in us in the future.

How often do you think about heaven? How often do you praise God for His continued work of redeeming us and making us new? Take some time to think about these things.

The more we consider the future and our union with God, the more this perspective will encourage us to endure difficult seasons of life.

06/24/2026

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

06/20/2026

https://giv.li/l9hpyi

06/18/2026

Walk As Jesus Did

Have you ever asked yourself, “How did Jesus live His life?” “What does obeying Him look like?” “How does He want me to live?”

These are great questions to ask—in order to discover what God expects from those who love Him.

1 John 2:4-6 says this:
“Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way which he walked.” (ESV)

When Jesus was with His disciples, He said to them, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NLT)

When His followers loved each other, it was a sign of their obedience to Jesus—and the same is true for us. We are told by John in his letter to a group of Christians that it is God’s commandment that “we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” (1 John 3:23 ESV)

Our love for those in the global Church is a mark of obedience, and a sign that God lives in us. By doing this, we know that God abides in us. To walk as Jesus did is to love those in the Church with compassion, faithfulness, and humility. It’s by this love that the world will know we are His disciples (John 13:35).

Living like Jesus isn’t about checking off a list of things we should or shouldn’t do. It’s about living a life that is so rooted in God’s love that we long to obey all His commands.

Living like Jesus looks like sacrificially loving the people God made and sent His Son to die for—starting with the people who call Jesus their Savior.

Most of the New Testament is devoted to encouraging believers how to live with one another. So this week, take some time to read through the apostle John’s letters in the New Testament and look for ways you can put into practice Jesus’ commandment to love one another.

06/18/2026

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions

Daily readings for devoted living.

06/07/2026

Getting to know Him
“Jesus Christ” Philippians 3:7-14 Pastor Watts-NTBC Hallelujah God

05/28/2026

Join us for Vacation Bible School this July, where your child can engage in spiritual growth, fun activities, and exciting prizes.