‘He Rules the World’—A Rock-Pop Spectacle With a Christ-Centered Message for the Entire Family

Celebrations of Christmas often feature traditional performances with soft music, choirs, and Bible costumes. But Peter and Jennifer Emerson have revolutionized this concept with their groundbreaking production, “He Rules the World,” a rock-pop experience that masterfully tells the nativity story while delivering an energetic, family-friendly show.

“He Rules the World” blends high-energy rock guitars, classically-trained vocals, and even the sound of a pop synth keytar with the Christian message of Jesus’ birth.

Peter was inspired to write “He Rules the World” after attending a Trans-Siberian Orchestra performance. Impressed by the spectacular lights, lasers, pyrotechnics, and the sheer energy of the show, he felt the call to create something similar—but with one key difference: a focus on Christ.

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“Their Christmas show was Christmas adjacent, but it wasn’t really about Christ. I wanted to do something that was both a spectacle and God-centered,” Peter said.

Peter told ChurchLeaders that his inspiration led to a six-month creative period in 2019, during which he wrote the music for the show. “God just pushed it through me,” Peter shared, crediting divine inspiration for the seamless and powerful composition of the show’s 17 songs. This rock opera, in its entirety, tells the nativity story in a way that’s vibrant and modern, yet faithful to the biblical narrative.

Those who attend “He Rules the World” will be immersed in an experience that combines Christmas music with stunning visuals, intricate lighting, and animated narrations by famous “Hercules” actor Kevin Sorbo. “I’m a very visual person,” Peter said. “I wanted something that was as interesting to watch as it was to listen to.”

The Emersons shared how they approached Sorbo. After a one-hour Zoom call with the couple sharing their vision for “He Rules the World,” Peter said that the “Hercules” actor was instantly on board, telling them, “Yeah, I’m in. What’s next?”

Jennifer emphasized the importance of creating a show that parents can feel good about sharing with their children. “I’m always looking for high-quality, fun, engaging activities that are family-friendly but also meaningful,” she explained. “He Rules the World” delivers the perfect balance between entertainment and spiritual depth.

“The older generations are going to enjoy a lot of the influences of music they grew up listening to—Styx, Steely Dan, and Tom Petty—while the younger kids are going to find themselves humming along to familiar Christmas melodies that they know,” Jennifer added.

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Jennifer recalled how a 12-year-old boy who attended 2022’s show said, “Man, this is the best concert I’ve ever been to! People need to come see this. The keytar is amazing!”