Skip to content ↓

Enjoy Messiah This Christmas Season

Resources Collection cover image

Around this time last year I let you know about a new book that provides background and commentary for Handel’s Messiah. And now I want to encourage you to take in a performance of Messiah this Christmas season. And just to get you started, I’ve done some of the work, at least for those of you who live in a few major cities.

Messiah is one of the last distinctly Christian cultural events. Think about it: every year thousands and thousands of people pack concert halls to hear people sing Scripture set to music. They hear prophecies of a coming Messiah, they hear of his birth, they hear of his death and resurrection and they hear of his coming return. It is a remarkable thing. I almost feel a responsibility to support this kind of an event. I try to go every year and always enjoy it immensely.

I think you should do the same. It’s really quite easy to find a performance. I typed a few cities into Google and quickly found performances in:

New York – New York Philharmonic. Avery Fisher Hall. December 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 $31-$132

Toronto – Toronto Symphony Orchestra with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Roy Thompson Hall. December 14, 16, 17, 18, 19. $38 – $107

Atlanta – Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus. Atlanta Symphony Hall. December 1, 3. $29 – $59

Philadelphia – The Philadelphia Orchestra with the Philadelphia Singers Chorale. Verizon Hall. December 18. $29 – $124.

Los Angeles – Los Angeles Master Chorale. Disney Hall. December 18. $24-$114.

I could go on and on. These are just the major events in major cities. Countless smaller churches, choirs and orchestras will also be offering performances.

So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets, buy the book, and prepare to have your soul stirred.


  • Lest We Drift

    Lest We Drift

    We all love to be part of a movement, don’t we? There is a kind of exhilaration that comes with being part of something that has energy and excitement. There is a kind of spiritual thrill that comes with being part of something that is premised upon sound doctrine and fixated on the gospel of…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (February 7)

    A La Carte: Analyzing John Mark Comer / Wolf and sheep / Is witchcraft real? / Stop the fight before it starts / The sweetness of repentance / Study Bible sale / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (February 6)

    A La Carte: Leaving one church for another / When Hollywood tries to make Christians look stupid / Wonders of the world to come / Denying the faith / The master of the nets / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Marriage

    Lots of Single Christians but Few Weddings

    I find it one of the great mysteries of the modern church. It does not exist in every context and every congregation, but as I’ve traveled and inquired, I’ve become convinced it exists in a great many of them. Here is the mystery: A lot of churches have many single men and many single women…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (February 5)

    A La Carte: The vibe shift / When gentle parenting crashes / Confessing a critical spirit / Misconceptions of maturity / Postpartum depression and anxiety / Kindle and book deals / and more.