Redeemer Church Tauranga - Podcast

Redeemer Church Tauranga
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to the weekly audio podcast for Redeemer Church Tauranga, New Zealand. Ps Philip Brown and the Elders and guests bring Gospel-centered, Biblically-based, and Spirit-reliant messages each week that will inspire and strengthen your walk with Christ. Redeemer Church exist to see lives redeemed and our city renewed by the gospel for the glory of God. Visit us online at www.redeemerchurch.org.nz

  1. Sep 6

    #13 An Emancipated Disney Channel Star (Ecclesiastes 6:1-12)

    Philip Brown opens Ecclesiastes 6 by confronting two deep problems under the sun: restless forward-thinking that never finds satisfaction, and the futile attempt to dispute with God’s sovereign destiny. Solomon paints the tragic picture of a man who has everything yet cannot enjoy it, showing that the endless chase for more leaves a person emptier than a stillborn child. Like an emancipated Disney Channel star who takes control too early and ends up ruining their life, we too can reject contentment and God’s limits only to find deeper emptiness. Solomon calls listeners instead to enjoy the good things of the present and to rest in God’s providence. Ultimately the message points to Christ, the greater Solomon, who alone satisfies the eternity set in our hearts and has secured the new world we long for. "There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place? All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 6:1-12)?

    #13 An Emancipated Disney Channel Star (Ecclesiastes 6:1-12)

  2. Aug 30

    #12 A Lego Death Star for Christmas (Ecclesiastes 5:8-20)

    This week Aidan examines the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 5:8-20, focusing on the vanity of pursuing wealth and the reality of earthly injustice. He argues that while we should expect to see corruption and oppression in this world, our ultimate trust must remain in God rather than fallible human rulers. He highlights how the love of money often leads to restlessness and stress, contrasting the unfulfilling nature of material gain with the satisfaction of finding joy in our daily toil, which he identifies as a gracious gift from God. By reflecting on the truth that we enter and depart this life with nothing, the sermon points us beyond temporary worldly treasures and place our hope in Jesus Christ, who provides the lasting righteousness and satisfaction that the world cannot offer. If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.  He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.  There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.  Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart (Ec 5:8–20).

    #12 A Lego Death Star for Christmas (Ecclesiastes 5:8-20)

  3. Aug 23

    #11 MVP in Mini Golf (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

    Phil opens Ecclesiastes 5 by examining how we should approach the living God in worship. Solomon reminds us that God is in heaven and we are on earth—transcendent, holy, and not to be treated flippantly or transactionally. He bridges the Old Testament temple to its New Testament fulfilment in Christ and the gathered church, calling believers to fear God with weighty reverence, to listen carefully to His Word, and to keep their vows without rashness or delay. While the passage is heavy with warning, it ultimately points to the gospel: in Christ, God welcomes fools, keeps every promise we break, and invites us to the table of His faithful presence. 5  Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2  Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.  4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear  (Ec 5:1–7).

    #11 MVP in Mini Golf (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

  4. Aug 16

    #10 A Twitchy Controller (Ecclesiastes 4:9-16)

    This sermon on Ecclesiastes 4:9–16 explores the pros and cons of human relationships under the sun. Solomon celebrates the clear benefits of companionship—two are better than one for work, protection, warmth, and resilience—while honestly acknowledging the burdens of stubbornness, pride, and the endless cycle of disappointing leaders and generations. The preacher warns against overreacting to human sinfulness by withdrawing into isolation or expressive individualism, and instead calls listeners to invest in imperfect people. Ultimately the message points beyond human friends and kings to Jesus Christ, the perfect friend who never leaves us and the worthy king who alone can open the scroll and bring lasting joy. "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.  Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind" (Ec 4:9–16).

    #10 A Twitchy Controller (Ecclesiastes 4:9-16)

  5. Aug 9

    #9 '90s Movie Dad (Ecclesiastes 4:1-8)

    This sermon on Ecclesiastes 4:1-8 explores the twin dramas of oppression and work under the sun. Solomon observes the tears of the oppressed who have no comforter, while power rests with their oppressors, and then turns to the vanity of toil driven by envy of one’s neighbour. Phil Brown carefully defines true biblical oppression as the abuse of power that breaks God’s commandments and harms the vulnerable, contrasting it with mere restrictions of reality or legitimate authority. He warns against both the endless pursuit of more (motivated by envy) and the folly of laziness that “eats its own flesh,” pointing instead to the balanced “handful of quietness.” The message culminates in the greatest act of oppression—the cross of Christ—who was afflicted for our sake so that the oppressed might find true comfort and believers might rest in His finished work rather than their own performance.

    #9 '90s Movie Dad (Ecclesiastes 4:1-8)

  6. Aug 1

    #8 Build a Commune in Your Paddock (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22)

    Solomon confronts the pervasive wickedness that infects even places of justice and righteousness, reminding us that people—including ourselves—are the core problem in a fallen world. He observes that God will ultimately judge the righteous and the wicked, yet in the meantime he tests us to reveal our beastly nature through sin and the shared reality of death. Rather than naïve optimism, desensitisation, or cynicism, we are called to reject idleness and instead rejoice in our daily work as our God-given lot, labouring to bless others while we can. The message drives us to Christ—the truly righteous One whose perfect work at the cross brings justice, righteousness, and hope—leading naturally into joyful participation in the Lord’s Supper. "Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him" "Ec 3:16–22)?

    #8 Build a Commune in Your Paddock (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22)

  7. Jul 26

    #7 See it in IMAX (Ecclesiastes 3:9-15)

    Caleb Johnston continues the Ecclesiastes series by addressing the question at the heart of chapter 3: “What gain has the worker from his toil?” after the famous poem about times and seasons. Solomon observes that God has made everything beautiful in its time, placed eternity in the human heart, yet limited us so we cannot grasp the full design from beginning to end. In the midst of these limits, real joy, doing good, eating, drinking, and finding pleasure in toil remain possible as God’s gifts. Ultimately, whatever God does endures forever so that people will fear him, with nothing lost or overlooked in his providence. The sermon calls listeners to humble trust rather than control, receiving ordinary gifts with thanksgiving and living in reverent fear of the unchanging God whose work holds all things—pointing forward to the finished work of Christ at the Lord’s Supper. "What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.  I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away" (Ec 3:9–15).

    #7 See it in IMAX (Ecclesiastes 3:9-15)

  8. Jul 18

    #6 Skinny Jeans on the Beach (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

    This sermon unpacks Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, the famous “a time for everything” passage, showing how constant change marks life under the sun in a fallen but sovereignly governed world. Phil Brown helps listeners recognise the extent of change—reversible and irreversible, predictable and unpredictable, good and bad—while urging them to know their current season, do what it requires, enjoy its perks, and face its challenges with joyful grit. Rejecting both arrogant denial of change and excessive nostalgia, the message calls God’s people to live wisely in the present without gripping temporal blessings too tightly. It culminates in gospel hope: while everything under heaven shifts, God and his promises remain unchanging, leading naturally into the Lord’s Supper as a seal of that stability in Christ. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:  a time to be born, and a time to die;  a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;  a time to kill, and a time to heal;  a time to break down, and a time to build up;  a time to weep, and a time to laugh;  a time to mourn, and a time to dance;  a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;  a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  a time to seek, and a time to lose;  a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  a time to tear, and a time to sew;  a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  a time to love, and a time to hate;  a time for war, and a time for peace" (Ec 3:1–8).

    #6 Skinny Jeans on the Beach (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
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About

Welcome to the weekly audio podcast for Redeemer Church Tauranga, New Zealand. Ps Philip Brown and the Elders and guests bring Gospel-centered, Biblically-based, and Spirit-reliant messages each week that will inspire and strengthen your walk with Christ. Redeemer Church exist to see lives redeemed and our city renewed by the gospel for the glory of God. Visit us online at www.redeemerchurch.org.nz

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