15 Songs to Listen to at Christmas
Note: This article is the third in a series of articles on 15 songs for different seasons of life. Click here and here to see the first two.
When does the Christmas season begin? For some, it’s right after Thanksgiving (and definitely not before Thanksgiving). For others, it’s once Advent begins. For many, it’s likely once they begin to smell the smells or hear the sounds of Christmas. Few things elicit Christmas-like emotions like Christmas music.
Music ought to be a significant part of Christmas for Christians. It is a time to celebrate one of the most significant historical events in the history of mankind: God becoming a man. The wonder of that reality makes singing a logical response. The glory of that reality makes singing the fitting response. We sing about what stirs our hearts. And what ought to stir our hearts more than God becoming a man for the purpose of dwelling with us and saving us?
We live in a time where we are blessed to enjoy a wealth of gospel-centered Christmas music, both old and new. This made creating a list of only 15 songs quite difficult. But I’ve managed to narrow the list down to 15 Christmas songs that I will enjoy throughout this season. For the most part, I tried to choose only one song per music artist. And most of the songs are a part of a full album of Christmas music. I hope you enjoy and explore more Christmas songs that will point your mind and heart to Jesus. If you have a particular Christmas song that you enjoy each year, I would enjoy hearing from you.
Merry Christmas!
YouTube Playlist
YouTube Music Playlist
Spotify Playlist
1. "Joy Has Dawned" (Getty) (YouTube)
This modern Christmas song has been around long enough it almost feels like a classic. The text is a wonderful meditation on the gospel meaning of Christmas.
Joy has dawned upon the world
Promised from creation
God's salvation now unfurled
Hope for every nation
Not with fanfares from above
Not with scenes of glory
But a humble gift of love
Jesus born of Mary 1
2. "Matthew’s Begats" (Andrew Peterson) (YouTube)
Andrew Peterson has given us one of the most unique songs you may ever hear. Who ever thought there would be a song based on a biblical genealogy? This is a creative song that helps you to learn and see the beauty of the lineage of Jesus, God become man.
Now, listen very closely
I don't want to sing this twice
Jacob was the father of Joseph
The husband of Mary
The mother of Christ 2
3. "Sing We the Song of Emmanuel" (Boswell, Papa, Townend) (YouTube)
Our church has sung this song for several years now. It is another modern Christmas song that is packed with gospel-centered lyrics related to Christmas. And the “Gloria” tag is glorious!
Come we to welcome Emmanuel
King who came with no crown or throne
Helpless He lay, the Invincible
Maker of Mary, now Mary’s son
O what wisdom to save us all
Shepherds, sages, before Him fall
Grace and majesty, what humility
Come on bended knee, adore Him 3
4. "Mary’s Song" (Slugs & Bugs) (YouTube)
If you are a parent (or grandparent) and don’t know about Slugs and Bugs, let me introduce them to you! They have a lot of really good resources for children. Last year the HPCS lower school Christmas program featured many songs from the Slugs and Bugs Family Christmas album, including this excellent song based on Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1:46-55. This has become one of my favorite Christmas songs!
For He has looked on the humble estate of His servant,
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed. 4
5. "Joy (Luke 2:8-14)" (Seeds Family Worship) (YouTube)
Seeds Family Worship produces songs that are either directly from Scripture or very closely tied to Scripture, as the song "Joy" from their Christmas album, based on Luke 2:8-14. If you want help in memorizing Scripture, listen to Seeds Family Worship.
And they were terrified, but the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid, I bring you good news
Of great joy that will be for all people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.
He is Christ the Lord!” 5
6. "In the Fullness of Time" (Matt Boswell and Matt Papa) (YouTube)
In this brand new (2023) Christmas song from Matt Boswell and Matt Papa, they meditate on the phrase "in the fullness of time" (see Ephesians 1:10 and Galatians 4:4) that is used of Christ’s coming. They even finish the song with a newly written stanza to the song "Holy, Holy, Holy" (see the lyrics below).
Holy, holy, holy in a manger lowly
Christ the Son now veiled in flesh
In our humanity
Kingdoms bow before Him; Heav’n and earth adore Him
God here in person
Hail His majesty 6
7. "Midnight Clear" (Chris Tomlin) (YouTube)
I love it when song writers take older songs and arrange them in fresh ways. It often prompts me to consider the lyrics in a new way. That is what Chris Tomlin has done with the song “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” adding a fitting chorus (see lyrics below).
Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God evermore
Good news, great joy for all
Melody breaks through the silence
Christ, the Savior is born!
Jesus, the love song of God! 7
8. "How Dark the Night" (Church Works Media) (YouTube)
Church Works Media has published many great modern hymns. We recently highlighted their new CD coming out this month (December 2023). Last year they produced a new Christmas song with vocals (in part) by one of our members, Paul Keew.
How dark the night in Bethlehem
Where trav’lers sought for rest;
How crude the cave they sheltered in
While sheep and oxen slept.
Yet Light burst forth into the world,
Dispelling sin and strife.
The Child born to a virgin girl
Was Christ, the Light of Life.
How dark the night that shrouds the world
Where war and anguish reign;
How fierce our swords, how sharp our words,
How piercing is our pain.
O Christ, return like blazing dawn—
The Morning Star of Light!
The Lord Himself will be our Sun,
And day eclipse the night! 8
9. "He Who Is Mighty" (Sovereign Grace) (YouTube)
Sovereign Grace has produced a few Christmas albums. "He Who Is Mighty" is one of my favorite Christmas songs that they’ve produced. If you like this song, check out the rest of their Christmas albums here or on YouTube.
Oh, the freedom our Savior won
The yoke of sin has been broken
Once a slave, now by grace
No more condemnation
Unto us a Son is given, unto us a Child is born
He Who is mighty has done a great thing
Taken on flesh, conquered death's sting
Shattered the darkness and lifted our shame
Holy is His name 9
10. "God Is With Us" (Casting Crowns) (YouTube)
"God Is With Us" is a beautiful, meditative song from Casting Crowns on the reality of Emmanuel, God with us.
Love is raining down on the world tonight
There's a presence here I can tell
God is in us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel
He's the savior we have been praying for
In our humble hearts he will dwell
God is in us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel 10
11. "Come and Worship" (Bebo Norman) (YouTube)
Similar to "Midnight Clear" above, "Come and Worship" is a reworking of the hymn “Angels from the Realms of Glory.” It adds a fitting chorus to the song.
Angels from the Realms of glory
Wing your flight o'er the Earth
Ye who sang creation's story
Now proclaim the Messiah's birth
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Come and Worship
Worship Christ the Newborn King 11
12. "Little Drummer Boy" (for King + Country) (YouTube)
This version of "Little Drummer Boy" might appeal to some more than others. It’s a creative take on the classic song "The Little Drummer Boy," filled with a mix of percussive and orchestral music.
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum
When we come 12
13. "O Come All Ye Faithful" (Shane and Shane) (YouTube)
Shane and Shane have done much to encourage the worship of Christians, and recently, they’ve produced songs to encourage kids to worship through song in a series called Worship in the Word, available on RightNow Media. I love their version of "O Come All Ye Faithful" which includes a stanza that I had never heard before.
True God of true God, light from light eternal
Lo, He shuns not the virgin's womb
Son of the Father, begotten not created
Child for us sinners, poor and in the manger
We would embrace Thee with love and awe
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord 13
14. "O Come, All You Unfaithful" (Sovereign Grace) (YouTube)
Though the title is provocative, given that it plays off of the title “O Come All Ye Faithful,” this song is quickly becoming a favorite to sing personally and with our church. It reminds us of this important truth: God welcomed us before we were faithful.
O come, all you unfaithful
Come, weak and unstable
Come, know you are not alone
O come, barren and waiting ones
Weary of praying, come
See what your God has done
Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you 14
15. "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" (Rain for Roots) (YouTube)
Rain for Roots has a great Christmas album that will be featured in this year’s HPCS Lower School Christmas program. My favorite part of this version of the song is the ending, which reminds us that just as God’s people waited for him to come in the past, we also are waiting for him to come again.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne
We are waiting
We are waiting
We are waiting for You.
(Hallelujah, what a Savior!) 15
Bonus: "O Holy Night" (David Phelps) (YouTube)
"O Holy Night" is one of the most (if not the most) popular Christian Christmas songs. Most any Christian music artist that makes a Christmas album will include this song. However, I have found no version of this song that is sung as compellingly and powerfully as David Phelps’.
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world, in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night, O night divine 16
1 Words by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty - ©2005 Thankyou Music
2 Words by Andrew Peterson - ©2002 New Spring Publishing, Inc.
3 Words by Matt Boswell, Mat Papa, Stuart Townend - ©2016 Messenger Hymns
4 Mary’s Song (Slugs & Bugs): Words by Randall Goodgame ©2020 Slugs and Bugs, exclusively distributed by Integrity Music
5 Joy (Luke 2:8-14) (Seeds Family Worship): Words by Jason Houser – ©2015 Seeds Family Worship
6 In the Fullness of Time (Matt Boswell and Matt Papa): Words by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa ©2023 Getty Music Publishing (BMI)
7 Midnight Clear (Chris Tomlin): Words by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Jonas Myrin- ©2015 sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records
8 How Dark the Night (Church Works Media): Words by Chris Anderson - © 2022 Church Works Media
9 He Who is Mighty (Sovereign Grace): Words by Rebecca Elliot and Kate DeGraide - ©2014 Sovereign Grace Worship
10 God is With Us (Casting Crowns): Words by Wayne Kirkpatrick - © Downtown Music Publishing
11 Come and Worship (Bebo Norman): Words by Bebo Norman, Jason Ingram - ©2007 Capitol Christian Music Group, Inc.
12 Little Drummer Boy (for King + Country): Words by Katherine Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone - © International Korwin Corp
13 O Come All Ye Faithful (Shane and Shane): Words by ascribed to John Francis Wade – Public Domain
14 O Come, All You Unfaithful (Sovereign Grace): Words by Lisa Clow and Bob Kauflin - ©2020 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)
15 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (Rain for Roots): Words by Charles Wesley, tag by Katy Bowser - ©2015 Rain for Roots
16 Bonus: O Holy Night (David Phelps): Words by John S. Dwight – Words: Public Domain