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Worth It: Following Jesus When Life Feels Complicated
Shows teens how living for Jesus makes a genuine difference—even in the midst of personal challenges and global uncertainty.Being a teenager has always been complicated. And these days, it’s even more so; mental-health struggles, social upheaval, climate issues, the rise of AI, wars and political polarisation all add to the sense of uncertainty.
In the midst of all that, can Jesus really make a positive difference in your life? What about when being a Christian puts you at odds with the values of your friends and with society in general? Is following Jesus worth it?
Chris Morphew wants to show you why it absolutely is. However good you think the good news of Jesus is, it’s better. If you stick with him, he’ll help you navigate all the challenges of our uncertain world in a way that nothing and no one else can. Discover how to follow Jesus in a way that genuinely impacts every area of your life for the better—and the lives of the people you know and love.
This book will encourage any Christian teenager and makes a great gift.
In the midst of all that, can Jesus really make a positive difference in your life? What about when being a Christian puts you at odds with the values of your friends and with society in general? Is following Jesus worth it?
Chris Morphew wants to show you why it absolutely is. However good you think the good news of Jesus is, it’s better. If you stick with him, he’ll help you navigate all the challenges of our uncertain world in a way that nothing and no one else can. Discover how to follow Jesus in a way that genuinely impacts every area of your life for the better—and the lives of the people you know and love.
This book will encourage any Christian teenager and makes a great gift.
160 pages
Published March 1, 2025
4 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Chris Morphew
36 books152 followersChris Morphew is an author, teacher, and school chaplain living in Sydney, Australia.
He has written twelve books for the best-selling Zac Power series, as well as his own six-book young adult series, The Phoenix Files. He’s also co-written The Gateway, an eight-book series for primary school kids about a hotel for aliens, alongside Rowan McAuley and David Harding.
His latest books are Best News Ever, a 100-day guide to the Gospel of Mark, and The Big Questions, a series of short books answer tough questions about life and faith.
Chris enjoys Mario Kart, obscure board games, and superhero movies, and has been told he looks like Chris Hemsworth from the back.
He has written twelve books for the best-selling Zac Power series, as well as his own six-book young adult series, The Phoenix Files. He’s also co-written The Gateway, an eight-book series for primary school kids about a hotel for aliens, alongside Rowan McAuley and David Harding.
His latest books are Best News Ever, a 100-day guide to the Gospel of Mark, and The Big Questions, a series of short books answer tough questions about life and faith.
Chris enjoys Mario Kart, obscure board games, and superhero movies, and has been told he looks like Chris Hemsworth from the back.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 16, 2025
“I think this is one of my favorite Christian authors,” I said to my husband one evening. I had read the Big Questions series by Chris Morphew to my son a few years earlier, and that evening, I had just finished his new book Worth It, which may be one of my favorite Christian books for youth living in a post-Christian, post-churched, and post-reached world.
Morphew understands the struggles and issues that youth (and adults) are encountering in today’s post-Christian culture. Whether that is feeling narrow-minded or intolerant for holding Christian beliefs, doubting if God is really loving, or wondering if you are on the “wrong side of history.” The main theme of the book is whether or not following Christ is worth the hassle–and if it can even make a difference in our lives now.
I loved his reminder that "[Jesus] didn't say, I have come that they may have all the facts about God perfectly arranged inside their heads. He said, 'I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.'" Morphew provides a well-rounded book that reminds us that we can trust Jesus, even in a complicated time.
📖 Read the full review at https://laurenducommun.com/.../15/wor...
Morphew understands the struggles and issues that youth (and adults) are encountering in today’s post-Christian culture. Whether that is feeling narrow-minded or intolerant for holding Christian beliefs, doubting if God is really loving, or wondering if you are on the “wrong side of history.” The main theme of the book is whether or not following Christ is worth the hassle–and if it can even make a difference in our lives now.
I loved his reminder that "[Jesus] didn't say, I have come that they may have all the facts about God perfectly arranged inside their heads. He said, 'I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.'" Morphew provides a well-rounded book that reminds us that we can trust Jesus, even in a complicated time.
📖 Read the full review at https://laurenducommun.com/.../15/wor...
June 27, 2025
This honest, insightful book speaks to teens about the challenges of being a Christian in today's world. Teacher and school chaplain Chris Morphew spends a lot of time with teens, and it's clear how well he understands their concerns, and how much he cares about them. He has previously published short books about specific faith questions, such as Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?. In this new, longer book, Morphew addresses multiple issues and themes, exploring why it's worth it to follow Jesus in a post-Christian culture.
Morphew takes readers back to key aspects of the Christian story, explaining why he believes that all of this is true, and why it changes everything, even when your friends think that you're weird and on the wrong side of history. He also addresses common questions about putting all of this into practice, sharing advice about topics like family life, dealing with suffering, and being a good friend.
Morphew doesn't shy away from hard topics, and he never talks down to teens. He writes in a conversational style that feels natural and engaging, and he shares personal stories and examples of conversations he's had with teens. He builds a sense of credibility and honesty throughout this book, and this book can speak to and encourage teens who are very serious about their faith, as well as skeptical teens who are on the verge of abandoning their childhood beliefs. Morphew takes people's questions and doubts seriously, and shares thoughtful and honest responses.
This is a great book for Christian teens and young adults who are looking for encouragement in their faith, or who want to explore possible answers to some of their doubts and questions. Also, even though the author's writing style and examples gear this book towards teens, this is a really great, encouraging book for adults to read as well. This is a powerful, encouraging Christian living book that addresses important topics in a disarmingly honest and thought-provoking way.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Morphew takes readers back to key aspects of the Christian story, explaining why he believes that all of this is true, and why it changes everything, even when your friends think that you're weird and on the wrong side of history. He also addresses common questions about putting all of this into practice, sharing advice about topics like family life, dealing with suffering, and being a good friend.
Morphew doesn't shy away from hard topics, and he never talks down to teens. He writes in a conversational style that feels natural and engaging, and he shares personal stories and examples of conversations he's had with teens. He builds a sense of credibility and honesty throughout this book, and this book can speak to and encourage teens who are very serious about their faith, as well as skeptical teens who are on the verge of abandoning their childhood beliefs. Morphew takes people's questions and doubts seriously, and shares thoughtful and honest responses.
This is a great book for Christian teens and young adults who are looking for encouragement in their faith, or who want to explore possible answers to some of their doubts and questions. Also, even though the author's writing style and examples gear this book towards teens, this is a really great, encouraging book for adults to read as well. This is a powerful, encouraging Christian living book that addresses important topics in a disarmingly honest and thought-provoking way.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
December 17, 2025
Author Chris Morphew has a way of communicating with youth and teens that is so engaging, real and tackles on thorny theological questions and topics head on. I loved reading this book with my teens. Partway through the book, we discovered there were discussion questions for each chapter that prompted some really good conversation -- wish I would have know about that when we first started reading!
There were some really powerful passages that I also plan to return to as a youth leader. Early on in the book, Morphew has this 2-page passage where he describes the religious/spiritual perspective of most of the teen demographic right now. We finished reading it and my kids were like "Yesss! this is exactly how my friends operate!" Morphew put his finger right there on the pulse, and then the rest of the book spoke right to that world (and Christian teens trying to survive and thrive in it).
Morphew makes good sense to me even as an adult. Towards the end of the book, he's addressing the question of how come in heaven will we not even want to sin. And he makes it gritty but there's this one passage where he compares it to someone coming up to you and saying, "Let's cut off our arms, wouldn't that be fun" and it made so much sense. So, a huge thank-you to the author for being creative, relevant, real, and just what our family needs in this season of life!
~Jen
There were some really powerful passages that I also plan to return to as a youth leader. Early on in the book, Morphew has this 2-page passage where he describes the religious/spiritual perspective of most of the teen demographic right now. We finished reading it and my kids were like "Yesss! this is exactly how my friends operate!" Morphew put his finger right there on the pulse, and then the rest of the book spoke right to that world (and Christian teens trying to survive and thrive in it).
Morphew makes good sense to me even as an adult. Towards the end of the book, he's addressing the question of how come in heaven will we not even want to sin. And he makes it gritty but there's this one passage where he compares it to someone coming up to you and saying, "Let's cut off our arms, wouldn't that be fun" and it made so much sense. So, a huge thank-you to the author for being creative, relevant, real, and just what our family needs in this season of life!
~Jen
March 23, 2025
""It just feels overwhelming, you know?"...For the last twenty minutes, (Ethan had) been giving me the latest in a series of updates on his life and school and parents and everything else that was weighing on him....The whole reason we were sitting here, having this conversation, was that somewhere along the way he'd caught a glimpse of the life that Jesus held out to him, and it had seemed like the most beautiful, most compelling news in the whole world. But had that all just been a blip? A momentary delusion? In the middle of all the complexity and challenge of real life, could he actually trust that "the good news about Jesus" really was as good as it had first seemed?
The same question goes for us. Can we?"
That's THE question, isn't it? Is the good news about Jesus deep-down-to-the-bones, good-even-when-life-is-bad good news?
(Spoiler alert - it is).
Chris Morphew has written an amazing book which answers this question in a way that feels like you're having a deep, enriching, but understandable conversation with a really good friend. He gently addresses all the main issues which confront teens today when doubts spiral in about the goodness of God, and how to live out their faith in today's post-Christian world.
Brilliantly, he starts with a whole chapter about the extravagantly deep, wide and lavish love of God. How wonderful to be immersed in the knowledge that we are deeply and completely loved by this amazing God! This is a chapter that I will reread many times, I think.
There are plenty of excellent Bible references as well as really useful discussion questions, which will make this an excellent resource for youth groups, youth bible studies and school groups.
I am way, way older than the target audience for this book, but I was incredibly blessed and encouraged by what I read - so, even if you're not a teen, get this book and read it! And then, buy a whole bunch more copies and pray about who God wants you to give them to. Once you've given that lot away, buy more, rinse and repeat.
But keep a copy for yourself and read it when life gets tough, when you're battered and bruised, and when you struggle to lift your head and talk to God. Through this book, Chris will sit beside you and gently point you back to Jesus, the God who loves you completely and who is utterly trustworthy.
Highly recommended.
The same question goes for us. Can we?"
That's THE question, isn't it? Is the good news about Jesus deep-down-to-the-bones, good-even-when-life-is-bad good news?
(Spoiler alert - it is).
Chris Morphew has written an amazing book which answers this question in a way that feels like you're having a deep, enriching, but understandable conversation with a really good friend. He gently addresses all the main issues which confront teens today when doubts spiral in about the goodness of God, and how to live out their faith in today's post-Christian world.
Brilliantly, he starts with a whole chapter about the extravagantly deep, wide and lavish love of God. How wonderful to be immersed in the knowledge that we are deeply and completely loved by this amazing God! This is a chapter that I will reread many times, I think.
There are plenty of excellent Bible references as well as really useful discussion questions, which will make this an excellent resource for youth groups, youth bible studies and school groups.
I am way, way older than the target audience for this book, but I was incredibly blessed and encouraged by what I read - so, even if you're not a teen, get this book and read it! And then, buy a whole bunch more copies and pray about who God wants you to give them to. Once you've given that lot away, buy more, rinse and repeat.
But keep a copy for yourself and read it when life gets tough, when you're battered and bruised, and when you struggle to lift your head and talk to God. Through this book, Chris will sit beside you and gently point you back to Jesus, the God who loves you completely and who is utterly trustworthy.
Highly recommended.
January 3, 2026
Me gusta la manera en la que escribe, mantiene a un adolescente interesado. Encuentras temas como el evangelio, la identidad, propósito que no están cargados de vocabulario que ellos no pueden entender. Lo leí con mi hija de doce años y nos gustó que adquirimos otro de este autor.
July 18, 2025
AHHHH READING THIS WITH THE GIRLS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST BIGS OF THIS YEAR FRR
August 14, 2025
Good book for youth.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews