St Lukes Church, Kotagiri

St Lukes Church, Kotagiri Sermons at the Church Worship service timings:
Tamil Service: 7.30 am
English Service: 9.30 am
Tamil Service: 11 am

This Days Message: Rev. Philip K Mulley1st reading: Joshua 4: 1-112nd reading: Mathew 22:15-22Theme: Rendering oneself t...
25/01/2026

This Days Message: Rev. Philip K Mulley
1st reading: Joshua 4: 1-11
2nd reading: Mathew 22:15-22
Theme: Rendering oneself to God

What is it tomorrow?
Republic Day.
What is the meaning of Republic?
It means that the people themselves have given a mandate that they are the rulers of the Country albeit by choosing representatives among them to rule the nation.

We find in the Bible also a Nation. According to the Bible, The Nation of Israel were the people of God. That is why in many passages of the Old Testament we read them as a Royal Priesthood. Loved by God and Chosen by God to declare that God is ONE. That is why God commanded the Israelites to “Love the Lord your God with all the mind, all the body and all the soul.
Nowadays Nation means comprising of many different people, many cultures, many languages and many religions. Yes, we want to say that we are a Nation.

Let’s compare the Nation in the Bible and the Nation these days.
In the Bible Nation was appointed by God.
But, nowadays a nation means a people living within a particular area earmarked with boundaries. We see our good friend Trump dictating terms with others.
What is the name of our nation? India. India is the oldest nation that is mentioned in the Book of Esther, the first ever recorded nation. India is never mentioned in the Sangam Literature or Vedas but mentioned only in the Bible. Our nation is very precious and after becoming a Republic we celebrate the Republic Day.

What is our commitment to our Nation?
In the 2nd lesson read to us Jesus Christ speaks about a Nation. “Render unto Caesar that is Caesar”. Who is Caesar? He is the ruler of the Roman Empire. There were many Caesars. Caesar is the person who represents the Nation. What Jesus says “Render unto Nation what is to Nation and render unto God what its God’s”. Tomorrow all the people right from the President, Prime Minister and various officials will be speaking about rendering to the Nation.

What did people 2000 years ago render to God?
As you read the passage, this question was raised by Pharisees who are the teachers of the law to trap Jesus. They tried to frame him as a rebel if the Roman Empire. But, Jesus knew their intentions and so he said “bring me a coin”. Then he pointed out to his questioner’s “whose image is in the coin?”. On one side of the silver coin there was the image of the Emperor. Therefore God says “Render unto him what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is Gods. So we render taxes to our Nation.
What are the taxes paid by the Jewish people at that time:
1. Ground Tax: 1/10th of all grains and 1/5th of all wine and fruits.
2. Income Tax: 1% of Income
3. Security tax: to Caesar for providing security
4. Poll Tax: one denarius for men between the age of 14-65 years and one denarius for women between the age of 12-65 years.
Without paying these taxes they could not claim that they were Jews.
So Jesus Christ says render unto him what ever he wants. But, render to God what is Gods.

As God’s children what should we render?
We render to God ourselves who have been created in the image of God. When we sing and praise we extol him. He has created us as a Royal Priesthood, and created a Nation with Jesus Christ as the head. We are mandated to render ourselves to God, our souls are redeemed through Jesus Christ. That is why we come to the Sanctuary. Amen

This Days Message: Bro. Dinesh, India Campus Crusade for Christ, Pryagraj, Uttar Pradesh. 1st reading: Ecclesiastes 12:7...
11/01/2026

This Days Message: Bro. Dinesh, India Campus Crusade for Christ, Pryagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

1st reading: Ecclesiastes 12:7-14
2nd reading: Mathew: 25:14-30

Theme: Stewardship

The meaning of Stewardship is not an owner but a responsible person. We are all stewards in some position and God has given it to us. Psalm 24:1-The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it; the world and all who live in it. Who is the owner of the Earth? God. Who is the owner of your Life? God.
Whatever we have, for it we are Managers. Genesis 2:15- The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. God created man to take care of what belongs to God.

We have to be accountable to all our activities ie. Life, time, money, skills and everything because it comes from God. We all have some skill. Who gave the skill, time, money? All is from God. One day God will come and ask “what have you done?”. In 1st Peter 4:10- “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of Gods grace in its various forms.” If God blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living but increase your standard of giving. Whatever you have share it with others.

Mathew 25:15 “To one he gave 5 bags of gold, to another 2, and to another 1.” God does not compare us with others. But he expects faithfulness with others. “Luke 12:48(second part)- From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one entrusted with much, much more will be asked”. This church I am sure you have everything complete. But in the place where I serve in one church, they have to prepare the place for worship, the church will be a damaged building, no seats for the worshippers, only one chair for Pastor which has to be used carefully otherwise the Pastor will have to take a fall. There is only one music instrument and it’s the Tabla. There too there is worship with full satisfaction and a lot of happiness and joy. There is lack of money etc. My friend also a missionary married a North Indian lady. In his church the roof was totally damaged. He had to call many for help to repair it. When comparing to your church it is just nothing. Much will be asked from you one day, you are accountable to God. In Mathew 23:23 we find that the unfaithful servant wasted his talent. He did not lose it but he did not put it to work. If we do not use our talent we will destroy it and then we will be subject to God’s wrath as “You wicked and lazy servant”. God is expecting the multiplication, growth, and the time given by God, we must invest that talent . What spiritual growth is happening in your life? What kind of holiness is happening in your life? If it’s at the same level, it’s a waste and God will call us “Wicked”. I accepted Christ in 2006 and after 6 years of preparation he called me to serve him. 3 years in Tamilnadu and Karnataka and thereafter in North India. It’s not easy. We have to leave our culture, relatives, climate(in UP it’s extreme summer and extreme winter). God chose me from Tamilnadu to North India where the Christian population is 0.05%. I have accepted the challenge, I can see the change in my spiritual growth and maturity.

God expects increase. Let’s compare this to 100 meters race and a marathon. The 100 meter is completed in a few seconds and the goal is attained. But to reach that we need full strength and stamina with speed. Marathon is 5kms, 6Kms, 8Kms etc. we have to focus your goal. We have to start slow and keep up stamina till the end. How is your spiritual stamina? Peter denied when faced with difficult circumstance. Similarly in North India in a recent Christmas programme, I had initiated all the work but had to go to another place. The place where the programme took place Bajrang Dal came and made many to deny Jesus, the Pastor was arrested but let off later, we were saved because we were in another place. To withstand such pressure we need spiritual stamina. After resurrection of Christ and being saved once again by Jesus, he started preaching. His faith grew and in his 1st sermon thousands accepted Christ. This is the kind of faith and growth expected by God. Romans 8:18 Paul says thus “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” The pain undergone cannot be compared to the Joy that comes from God.
God does not see a successful person but a faithful person. Faithful in small things. In the Lazarus story we find that Lazarus even though poor and sitting at the gate of the Zamindar was a faithful person. God measured his faithfulness. Whereas the Zamindar could not get to heaven. He was satisfied in the worldly living.
1. Are we using our talent to build God’s Kingdom or are we careless?
2. Are you sharing the Gospel or are you hiding? Are you proclaiming Jesus is God by using your life, character and faithfulness?
3. Are you caring for the creation?
Steward is the test when Jesus comes and we are accountable. Are you ready to meet him? We do not know the time, our life is uncertain, Are we ready to meet him? As stated in Luke 12.45- to whoever much is given much is expected. We need to have fear since we are accountable. We all are servants to our master and we have to be faithful even with our children. Our children are a gift from God and we have a responsibility to care for them. Be careful. As stated in John 10:10 Jesus came to give abundant life. God has given us not only wealth and health but also spiritual life. As much as we grow in God then only we will be real stewards.

May God make you a person as the executor of His purposes for all, beyond our families and church to the Society as a whole. Amen.

11/01/2026

Special song by Bro. Dinesh and his wife Mrs. Jancy who is also a missionary

Introduction and Testimony of Bro. Dinesh, Missionary, India Campus Crusade for Christ, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.Greetin...
11/01/2026

Introduction and Testimony of Bro. Dinesh, Missionary, India Campus Crusade for Christ, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Greetings to you all.
Campus Crusade for Christ was started in Los Angeles, USA in the year 1959. A group of College Students joined together and prayed for the spiritual revival of Christ teachings and faith and to see God’s mighty wonders in their campus and in other campuses. Now it has become a major missionary organization and is present in 180 countries and about 21000 volunteers are working. I am on a mission to share my testimony and to raise funds for the organization.

Now I would like to share my testimony to strengthen you faith and to pray for us.

Testimony
I share my testimony so that your faith will also be strengthened.
I hail from a Hindu Poojari family in Bargur, Anthiyur, Erode District of Tamilnadu. My father had immense belief in Astrology and during the second pregnancy of my mother, he was informed that if my mother gave birth to a girl child it will be a blessing and that the blessings of Godess Lakshmi will be there and your household will be a blessing. But if the child were to be a boy then he will be a curse to the family especially a problem for the Father. My father was scared. However, my mother gave birth to a boy. From the time of my birth my father did not visit me at my grandparents house but gave instruction to my mother to stop mothers milk after 4 months and to leave me back with my grandparent. My mother obeyed his instruction and left me back with my grandparents. My grandparents too were temple priests and I grew up in the temple. My grandfather used to punish the possessed people by caning, whipping and even cutting the tongues. Having witnessed all these things my character also became very hard and I was very short tempered, very poor in studies, always getting punishment from teachers. However I was very good in worship related matters. After 8th standard now it was found that I could join my parents since the curses have passed away.

Now I had rejoined my family, but as usual I was poor in studies even securing zero marks in most subjects except Tamil and Social Science.
Opposite to our house was a Christian family and a Pastor used to come there every week and he will assemble school students there and there was singing, praying and praising. My mother told me that I should not go to the opposite house because God will punish me. One day while I was watching TV in the opposite house the Pastor came in. Now I could not run away and was forced to listen to the Pastors message. On that day he spoke of the story of Solomon. He stated how God gave him knowledge and wisdom. He said this God is still alive. Also he said if you ask him he will give. I know Puranas that some people came from Brahma’s head, some from the body and some from the leg who were considered menial and were to do menial work. After this so many questions were raised in my heart. I requested that Pastor to clarify. He asked me “What is the meaning of you putting three lines on your forehead and putting a red dot at the centre? Find out.” My mother was my teacher in worship related matters and when I asked her the answer for the three lines and red dot on the forehead she too did not know, but my mother said I should not raise any questions. Now I asked the Pastor and he said “ the three lines are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the red dot is the blood sacrifice by the Son who saved the mankind from Sin”. He also said that this information is in the Vedas. After this I used to argue vehemently with the Pastor but every time he was not angered but replied with a smile. Many stories of our Gods also provided me only further insatiable questions. Then I accepted Christ as one of the Gods. However in 2006 when I got to know the true God I got myself baptised at Mettur Dam and started going to church. This put me and my family to trouble. My father said he had a dream in which God Kali threatened him that he will kill me. Thereafter I could not go to Church.

But, one thing happened in my life. My short temper was not there any more, my character had changed,my studies improved and I started becoming 1st in Class. In both Xth Standard and XII standard I stood school first. After this I decided to move out of my Native Place to Coimbatore for higher studies and joined Coimbatore Arts College purely to start attending Church and worship God.
I resided in the Government Hostel and pursued my studies. I shared my Gospel to my grandmother, my first mother. Due to a miracle received by my grandmother she was the first to accept Christ and got baptised. Thereafter she shared the Gospel to many. Thereafter I shared the Gospel with my mother and she too was saved.
From 2006-2012 God prepared me for his ministry and in 2012 I joined as a Missionary with India Campus Crusade and am now in the 13th year. I have worked in Tamilnadu, Karnataka, and now in Uttar Pradesh.
My advice:
1. Commit possible things to God. Eg. Regular prayers, regular Bible reading, present yourself as a sacrifice to God.
2. Impossible things- God will take care of. In my case I hail from a poojari hindu family and now doing God’s ministry in North India. The impossible things are happening in my life regularly.
Therefore commit the possible things to God and he will make you see the impossible things.

03/01/2026

Message by our beloved Bishop Rt. Rev. Prince Calvin @ our Church on 28/12/2025

31/12/2025

Watch night Service starts at 10.30pm
English Service @ 9.00am
Tamil Service. @ 11.00am

Our Beloved Bishop Rt.Rev. Prince Calvin and Bishop Amma Mrs.Ida Calvin will be worshipping with us this Sunday 28/12/20...
27/12/2025

Our Beloved Bishop Rt.Rev. Prince Calvin and Bishop Amma Mrs.Ida Calvin will be worshipping with us this Sunday 28/12/2025. In lieu of the same there will be only one service at 9am.
Please make a note and do attend the service.

25/12/2025

This Days Message:
Rev. Philip K Mulley
1st reading: Isaiah 9:1-7
2nd reading: Luke 2: 7-12

Theme: Come Lord Jesus

This Days Message: Rev. Philip K MulleyTheme: Church Calendar Year1st reading: Hosea 14:1-72nd reading: Romans 6:15-23Sc...
23/11/2025

This Days Message: Rev. Philip K Mulley
Theme: Church Calendar Year
1st reading: Hosea 14:1-7
2nd reading: Romans 6:15-23

School children have a school year. What is it called? Academic Year. There is another year which we all follow? What’s it? Calendar Year. Every Religion has a different year, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists each one. Today is the last Sunday in the Church Year. The next week is the beginning of the New Church Year and is called Advent Sunday.

This being the last Sunday, the Church always taught us to look back and the Church talked about Repentance. Today being the last Sunday we it is “We look back about God’s doing for us” how God has acted through his kindness for us.

In Church we have different stole colours worn by the Pastors. Next week being the beginning of Advent it will be “White”. During Lent we see them wearing the Purple Stole which shows us the time IOL repentance. Advent is also a time of “Repentance”. In the Eastern Tradition of the Church, they will not have any weddings too during these times of repentance. We need to repent in a positive way. How God has been good to us. We have always been bad to God, but God has been good to us throughout the last year.
How good is God to us? That is why God became man and that is the meaning of the season of Christmas. We need to turn to God who has always been good to us.

In the Old Testament portion read to us from Hosea chapter 14 please read verse 5.
“I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a Lilly. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;”
God is good to us like “dew”. Have you ever bothered to find out about the geographical characteristics of Israel? Mostly it is wilderness and only rain may be about 3-4 months only. Therefore God says “I will be like a dew”. The dew is the only water source that sustains them, the sail will become moist and the soil is fertile year round. God says “I will sustain you whatever the circumstances are”. That is why during the Passover festival they had a prayer for dew.
God says “I will sustain you” but with one condition “when they look upon me”. No rains, no floods, no showers, but God says “I will be like the dew round the year”. Then what happens, “they will blossom like a Lilly”. As Jesus stated in the New Testament “who takes care of the Lillies” like that God will take care of his people. Normally we think Lillie’s are white but it’s not always true. God says “ I have taken care of you and will take care of you just like the Lillie’s”. God further states that “He will take roots like the Cedar of Lebanon”. You see, this tree grows up to around 300 feet. This small sized dew sustains the Cedar trees of Lebanon. Even the Lillie’s can be plucked and thrown out. But, when God sustains we will grow like deep rooted Cedar tree nobody can even shake us because we have rooted in God. God has a purpose for each of us.

Throughout the last year he has provided the dew. Have you experienced that? What more greater imagery can be provided to show us how he sustains us. For his people in any corner of the universe, God will be like a dew, make us blossom like the Lillie’s and take root like the Cedars.

He has given his promise and has made us live up to his promise. At this time of repentance we thank God for being good to us. May God bless this season for us. He alone is our sustainer. Amen

Address

Lukes Church Road
Kotagiri
643217

Telephone

+919443025188

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