Theology on Mission S10:E13 Preaching in a New Key with Mark Glanville
What happens when expository preaching meets jazz improvisation?
In this musical and moving conversation, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore welcome Mark Glanville, pastor, jazz pianist, and author of Preaching in a New Key, to explore how preaching can meet the needs of post-Christian communities. From shifting cultural landscapes to the crisis of plausibility in faith, this episode unpacks how the preacher’s voice, imagination, and presence can open up space for beauty, belonging, and belief.
🎙️ In This Episode:
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Why a 1970s preaching manual is still #1 on Amazon—and why that’s a problem
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What a “crisis of plausibility” means for modern preaching
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Why Scripture must be heard as a communal word, not just an individual one
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How preaching can surprise people into faith through beauty and truth
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What jazz, blues, and the Psalms can teach us about crafting sermons today
📌 Highlights:
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[00:07:00] Faith in a post-Christian city: what’s changed since the Bible-under-the-arm days
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[00:13:00] The power of preaching to restore trust in Scripture
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[00:22:00] From “you” to “we”: how preaching shapes the beloved community
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[00:36:00] Why preaching from your humanity is not optional—it’s essential
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[00:39:00] Blues as a metaphor for the church: grief, joy, and solidarity
💡 Takeaway:
Preaching today is less about having the right answers and more about being fully present—bringing Scripture to life with the imagination, lyricism, and beauty that awakens faith. In a culture suspicious of authority, the ironic authority of wisdom is what opens hearts.