The Weight of the World: Christmas Devotional for Teenagers

We are thrilled to share that our Christmas Devotional for Teenagers is now available for preorder! Purchase your copy of Longing for Christmas today at New Growth Press or wherever you buy books. Don’t miss the opportunity to buy in bulk for a discount on the New Growth Press website — a perfect gift for your youth ministry students, or all the kids or grandkids in your family! Enjoy this small excerpt from the devotional, available in full in Longing for Christmas.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

I remember seeing an image of the Greek god Atlas holding the world on his shoulders when I was in high school. I identified with Atlas. Pressure to measure up socially, academically, and even as a Christian was like a physical weight I carried on my shoulders… To read the rest of this devotional and all 25 entries, purchase our advent devotional, Longing for Christmas.

Chelsea is Editor of Youth Ministry Content and the Director of Publishing for Rooted. She previously served as a youth pastor in New England churches for 13 years and participates on the advisory council at the La Vida Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership at Gordon College. Chelsea and her husband, Steve, live north of Boston and are parents to Wells and Emmett. She holds an M.Div from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where she is currently pursuing a Master of Theology (Th.M.) in Old Testament Studies. Chelsea is passionate about teaching teenagers biblical theology and helping them learn to study Scripture for themselves.

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