The Better Story

As people, we love stories. We love hearing them and sharing them. And stories shape what we think, believe, and do. In the midst of cultural confusion, anxiety, and the search for meaning, is there a better story? What if we weren’t just here by accident, just floating meaninglessly through the galaxy? What if we were made on purpose, for a purpose? What if there was a creator who designed us, formed us, and invited us into a way of life that was for our good, for our happiness, and for our flourishing? To find out more our Better Stories series, visit www.newcom.church/betterstory

What's the point of sex? What's right and wrong? The stories a society tells about sex tell a lot about a society. Do we really believe that bodies are just collections of cells and that sex is just a physical act with no deeper value or meaning? Is there a better story? In this talk, explore what God says about sex, how it is a good gift in it's right place, and how we can live to the fullest, free from shame. To find out more our Better Stories series, visit www.newcom.church/betterstory

What’s the most important thing in life? Finding love? Getting married? Or is there something more important to base your life around? This week we look at why singleness can be a huge blessing and how each one of us, single or married, can make our lives count.

Welcome to the Better Story podcast! We’ll be inviting guests to talk about the topics we’re covering on Sundays and in our community. In this first episode Jon and Katherine discuss the response to the series so far and why these topics can be taboo in churches.

Author Glynn Harrison joins us to talk about his excellent book with an excellent title, A Better Story! Glynn and Jon discuss how we can understand the stories around us and how we can share the gospel in effective ways that answer the questions people are actually asking, not just the ones we want them to be asking.

This week, Dave continues the Better Story series by discussing knowing the better story and communicating it to the world and society in which we live through grace and truth.

The church has often gotten it wrong. It's ranked sins, excluded certain people, and lost sight of its calling. But the gospel says that all have sinned and fallen short and are offered forgiveness, love, and another way to live. The good news is that there is a better story for our sexuality, one of eternal love, radical obedience, and eternal hope. In this talk, we hear Katherine's story, the teachings of the Bible, and their application to each of our lives.

Should we tell singles that God says they'll be married? Can men and women be friends? How to we cope with being single? We get into this topics with Sarah Yardley, an amazing leader, author and head of Creation Fest. Follow: https://www.instagram.com/sarahyardley/ Book: More Change https://amzn.eu/d/3G4zB0u Event: https://creationfest.org.uk/ www.newcom.church/betterstory https://www.instagram.com/newcomchurch/

Marriage is in crisis. Far fewer people are getting married, and many are asking big questions about what marriage is. When we look at the Bible, we see that marriage points to something bigger, something better. Marriage is about the big day. The day when Jesus is united with his bride, the church. In this sermon, James and Hannah explore the Better Story for Marriage and give practical tips for having a healthy relationship.

What is true hospitality, and how can we all open our hearts and our homes to others, no matter how big our house or what season of life we're in?

What is a woman? And are women any different from men? These questions cause division, anger, and confusion in our world. So what does the Bible say? What is the better story for women? In this talk, Hannah gives a positive vision for what it means to be a woman.

What is a man? Is masculinity toxic? We looked at The Better Story for Men and explored how it’s neither pagan nor modern, wimp nor barbarian.

Can Christians get braces? Or Botox? How much should we care about our appearance and health? Our bodies are central to our lives, our relationships, our work, and our happiness. Jon explores the better story for bodies and how we can navigate the practical questions that come up for each of us.

www.newcom.church/betterstory SHOW NOTES & CHAPTERS: Summary: In this conversation, Jon and Phil discuss the topic of friendship. Phil shares his inspiration for writing a book on friendship, which stemmed from personal experiences during the pandemic and the realisation of the importance of friendship in sharing one's faith. They explore the loneliness epidemic in modern society and the neglect of friendship in culture. They also discuss the impact of friendship on marriage and family, finding time for friendships, and the role of God in connecting people. The conversation concludes with insights on asking questions, vulnerability, and navigating uneven friendships. In this conversation, Phil Knox discusses the importance of maintaining and ending friendships, the value of Christian community, the role of church in fostering friendships, building intentional friendships, navigating friendships while parenting, developing friendships with non-Christians, and practical steps to grow in friendship. Takeaways: Friendships require effort and intentionality to maintain and may sometimes need to be ended if they are not mutually beneficial. Christian community plays a vital role in fostering and nurturing friendships. Church provides a unique space for diverse relationships and should not be neglected in the pursuit of friendships. Building intentional friendships involves being vulnerable, asking good questions, and investing time and presence. Parenting can impact friendships, but it is important to prioritise and invest in friendships for personal well-being and as a model for children. Developing friendships with non-Christians requires prayer, intentional engagement, and finding common ground. Practical steps to grow in friendship include mapping out existing friendships, prioritizing relationships, and seeking opportunities to deepen connections. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:22 The Inspiration for Writing a Book on Friendship 06:48 The Loneliness Epidemic 10:14 The Neglect of Friendship in Modern Culture 13:30 The Importance of Friendship in Marriage and Family 16:26 Finding Time for Friendship 20:12 Being Intentional with Friendships 22:19 Considering the Impact of Life Choices on Friendships 25:03 God's Role in Connecting People 27:23 The Importance of Asking Questions and Being Interested 29:17 The Stretch of Friendship and the Need for Vulnerability 31:52 Navigating Uneven Friendships 32:18 Maintaining and Ending Friendships 35:36 The Value of Christian Community 38:33 The Importance of Church 41:36 Building Intentional Friendships 47:56 Friendships and Parenting 51:41 Friendships with Non-Christians 56:14 Practical Steps to Grow in Friendship

“A better story for gender”. What does that even mean? Is gender binary? Is “male and female” relevant in the 21st century? What does this mean and look like? What about transgender? This talk explores these themes from a biblical perspective.

Abortion is a topic that doesn’t just hit the front pages but also impacts many of our lives. It’s a sensitive and significant area, and one that can bring pain and confusion. It can also be something that’s hidden in confusion and shame, which is why we need to talk about it in church. In this message, Dawn McAvoy from Both Lives shared stories and stats, as well as teachings from the life and conception of Jesus, to help us understand the better story of birth. Find more resources at www.newcom.church/birth

Dying is something that scares many, and debates about dying have been in the headlines week after week. Is euthanasia something to be welcomed, or is there value to be found in life before death? Sarah Foot addressed these questions and how, as Christians, we have a better story for dying. Sarah is a doctor, specialising in palliative medicine, and also teaches and debates on issues of bioethics and medical law.

Death has become taboo in society, and yet it’s so important we talk about it as death is a significant part of life—both grieving the loss of others as well as facing our own end. Is death something to fear, or is there something more beyond the grave? Ben addresses these issues and shares how we grieve, but as those with hope. Ben is a speaker at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and a part-time medical doctor, working as a consultant in Intensive Care Medicine. More about OCCA and Ben: https://www.theocca.org/author/ben-thomas/

What is the meaning of a better story about generosity? This week, James explores practical ways to live generously as God's children as he continues the Better Story series.

Does money dominate your life? Jesus said that we can't serve both God and money. How do we get free from the power that money holds over us? By giving it away. This week we look at the Better Story for Giving and how we can use money as worship to God and as a blessing to others.

Don’t pick the giraffe! 🦒 For our final session for The Better Story series, Jon explored how Jesus is worth giving everything for, how we find true freedom in sacrifice, and why we should never pick the idol, the golden calf, the giraffe.