Matthew 19:12-30

""Why ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied [to the man who asked what good deed must be done to have eternal life]. "There is only One who is..."

"Then Peter said to [Jesus], "We've given up everything to follow you. What will we get?" Jesus replied, "I assure you that when the world is made...."

"One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for..."

"[After the rich young man left rather than sell his possessions and follow Jesus,] Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is very hard..."

"Jesus told [the young man who said he had kept the commands of the law], "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the..."

"The disciples were astounded [when Jesus said it's very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom]. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they..."

When's the last time you jumped up and down for joy? Tom Norvell talks about a returning soldier being greeted by unrestrained joy by his wife and children and asked when was the last time you did that with God.

Is it really that big a deal? Divorce hurts kids and wounds adults and we must prevent it.

Will I follow on the journey, or will I choose to let where I am, where I'm comfortable, and what I have hold me in bondage? James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the call of the Lord to leave and follow no matter the cost.

Why do we not fight harder to stick with God's ideal? Paul reminds us of God's plan for marriage, without divorce; so let's fight to keep it.

"Someone came to Jesus with this question: "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?""

"Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.""

"If the young man in the gospel used this title in speaking to our Lord, how much more fitly may I thus address him! He is indeed my Master in both..."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 19:14 -- Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Largely, in the days when Jesus came, children were only valued if they were wanted. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that we not only must become like children, but as Jesus' followers, we must value children.

"[After talking about divorce not being God's plan and that divorce can lead to adultery,] Jesus' disciples then said to him, "If this is the case, it...."

"Dear Disciple, Following Me is hard. I want your heart. I want your focus. I want your future. I want to be your consuming passion. Yes, I know..."

What are your deepest desires? Russ Lawson speaks to our desires being the pursuit of our prayers.

To Jesus, she's more than just another forgotten little girl! Phil Ware reminds us of the power of compassion, especially when that compassion is channeled to help children escape poverty in Jesus' name through Compassion International.

What can't you do? While we may think we can't make a difference in the lives of troubled teens, with God's help, we can.

How are you doing at this important dimension of love? Paul Faulkner reminds us that we need to love ourself, properly care for ourselves and honor God by caring for his temple, if we are going to properly love others.

For God so loved us that he came to our world as a child. Phil Ware reminds us of the divine titles for Jesus in Matthew 1 and then drives home the point that this divine Christ, Messiah, Son of God, Immanuel, God with us, came to us as the child, Jesus.

"[Jesus taught his disciples about marriage, saying,] "And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery —..."

Largely, in the days when Jesus came, children were only valued if they were wanted. I wonder what history will say in the future about us? James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that we not only must become like children but as Jesus' followers, we must value children.

Do you dare dream for the road ahead? Tom Norvell shares about moving into a new home and his dreams for the future.

How have you been playing lately? Relationships and learning to play is the essence of becoming "children" in God's Kingdom!

What was God's plan to help Jesus' broken and flawed followers accomplish his mission? Phil Ware continues his series called Better Broken that focuses on how God used flawed, broken people to change the world by sharing the message of Jesus and this involved Purpose: to be witnesses, Plan: to release God's power through prayer; People: the

Which direction is right? Phil Ware continues to share his thoughts on helping kids find Jesus, Sagrada Familia, the Community, in Lima, Peru, and what matters most in our lives.

Colombia is associated with violence, kidnappings and drugs but is also a place of hope for over 55,000 children. A closer look at the work of Compassion International in Colombia.

Are you too young to know it is impossible? Tom Norvell Reminds us of the movie Amazing Grace and how William Pitt and Wilberforce did the impossible and overturned the slave trade in Great Britain and he calls on us to dream big dreams and do the impossible.

How good do you have to be to get into heaven? As long as we can find someone worse than us, we think we are good enough to get into heaven. That kind of thinking misses the point.

The Story of a sponsor meeting his child through Compassion International. The Story of witnessing Lee Raney meeting his sponsored child through Compassion International.

What other words need to be said than a smile? Phil Ware describes meeting his Compassion little girl for the first time in a slum in Kampala, Uganda.

What are you going to do with those irritating people? Some people are just irritating, so how are we going to treat them? Like God has treated us!

What makes you rich? Jesus told his followers that it was hard for the rich to become a part of his kingdom (Matthew 19:24). The apostle Paul said that those who want to have wealth fall into a trap, and some have ruined their faith because of it. (1 Timothy 6:9-10) And James