So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
The Greek word Paul chose for new in this verse is kainos referencing a new creation that has not existed previously. This has greater implications than if Paul had instead used neos, meaning new in an already established category.
This biblical concept of kainos new is a pillar of Christian doctrine. Since God is about the work of making us new every day, we are transformed throughout our lives into a new creation, continuously growing in our resemblance to the one we follow, Jesus Christ. Evidence of this transformation can be found in our words, attitudes, actions and lifestyle.
One way that we open ourselves to experience kainos new is by practicing the spiritual discipline of reading Scripture. This is because we encounter God in the pages of Scripture. And each time we meet the living God, we are changed.
With that in mind, I invite you, the Holston Conference, to join me in reading through the Bible together individually and collectively in 2022. As we participate in “Read Together” in community, we open ourselves to experience God's presence and kainos on an individual basis and as a conference.
- Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett
September 27, 2019 Psalm 146:1-10 by Leonore "L.E." Schmerber Assistant Youth Director & Certified Lay Speaker (CLS) of Christ UMC (Knoxville, TN) Tennessee Valley District “Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my ...
September 26, 2019 2 Corinthians 8:8-15 by Thomas Kline Hinkle CLM of St. John UMC (Chattanooga, TN) Scenic South District Focus Verse: It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality. 2 ...
September 25, 2019 Luke 20:45-21:4 by Charles Ensminger Clergy of Allen Memorial UMC (Athens, TN) Hiwassee District An Unsettling Comparison As I read this selection from the Gospel of Luke, I find that I am troubled by it. Not so much from the ...
September 24, 2019 Psalm 12 by Wendy Westerfield Laity of Sycamore Tree UMC (Maryville, TN) Smoky Mountain District Help! Psalm 12 causes me to rethink the instruction to set aside the problems of everyday life in order to “enter worship.” David ...
September 23, 2019 Psalm 106:44-48 by Dr. Kristen Burkhart Associate Pastor of Fountain City UMC (Knoxville, TN) Tennessee Valley District God remembered the covenant with them… God remembered the covenant with us… How can we remember our covenant ...
September 22, 2019 Amos 8:4-7 by Paige Wimberly Clergy of Newbern UMC (Dublin, VA) New River District It can be really hard to live with God in the moment... ...Sometimes it’s easier to carry the past around like broken baggage. Instead of ...
September 21, 2019 Psalm 79:1-9 by Becky Hall Laity of Christ UMC (Chattanooga, TN) Scenic South District This psalm appears to have been written while God’s people were taken captive in Babylon. God had told Israel that He was going to remove His ...
September 20, 2019 Jeremiah 8:1-13 Psalms 79:1-9 Romans 8:31-39 by Mary Charles Blair Chair, Church Council of Ooltewah UMC (Ooltewah, TN) Hiwassee District Growing up at First Methodist Church, Fort Payne, AL was very traditional. Sunday morning ...
September 19, 2019 Jeremiah 13:11 by Monika Surcey Administrative Assistant of Clinch Mountain District The passage for this day from the book of Jeremiah chapter 13 is interesting to me in how God told Jeremiah to do a specific thing. In the middle ...
September 18, 2019 Luke 22:31-33, 54-62 by Leonore "L.E." Schmerber Assistant Youth Director & Certified Lay Speaker of Christ UMC (Knoxville, TN) Tennessee Valley District … and when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” I have read or ...
September 17, 2019 2 Peter 3:8-9; 14 by Laura Shearer Retired Clergy Scenic South District Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as one day. God isn’t late with His promise as ...
September 16, 2019 1 Timothy 1:18-20 by Dan Young CLM of Pikeville UMC (Pikeville, TN) Scenic South District Fight the Good Fight The devotion today is a lesson in Faith and Endurance. We've all had those doubt moments in our Faith Journey. Am I ...
September 15, 2019 Luke 15:1-10 by Susan Groseclose Clergy & Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for Discipleship Smoky Mountain District When was the last time you lost something of value? Several months ago I lost my cell phone. I wasn’t ...
September 14, 2019 John 10:11-21 by John Crabtree Clergy of First UMC Mountain City-Trade (Mountain City, TN) Three Rivers District Playing It Safe Safety is a topic of major concern for everyone. Our news daily brings dangers, disasters, and ...
September 13, 2019 Psalm 51:1-10 by Ginger Isom Clergy of Sycamore Tree UMC (Maryville, TN) Smoky Mountain District While serving in my first appointment, which was out in the country, I made a weekly trip into town to do my grocery shopping. On one...
September 12, 2019 Psalm 51 by Ralph Skinner CLS Laity of Middlebrook Pike UMC (Knoxville, TN) Tennessee Valley District Psalm 51 New International Version (NIV) 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great ...
September 11, 2019 Psalm 2, Jeremiah 20:1-18, Luke 18:18-30 by Sam Ward Clergy of St. Mark UMC (Knoxville, TN) Smoky Mountain District Difficulty I remember reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship for the first time. I was in college,...
September 10, 2019 1 Timothy 4:6-16 by David Harr Retired Clergy of Scenic South District “Do not neglect the gift that is in you…” 1 Timothy 4:14a God gifts each of us as we seek to serve His Kingdom. One way I see His gifts in me is to witness His...
September 9, 2019 1 Timothy 3:14-16 by John Shearer Laity of First-Centenary UMC (Chattanooga, TN) Scenic South District Have you ever sent a letter – or at least an email or a smart phone text - to anyone trying to encourage the person in his or her...
September 8, 2019 Philemon 1:1-21 by Betty Furches Clergy of Friendsville UMC (Friendsville, TN) Smoky Mountain District “…your grace is enough …” I re-read this one-chapter book after I had reviewed all others listed as scripture readings for ...
September 7, 2019 Jeremiah 17:14-27 by Jake Herron Clergy of Apison UMC (Apison, TN) Hiwassee District It has been just over a year since I lost my hero. It has been just over a year since the man I have looked up to for the last 34 years died. It ...
September 6, 2019 Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 by Pierce J. (Jack) Edwards Retired Clergy of First Broad Street UMC (Kingsport, TN) Appalachian District The God-Examined Life Socrates used to say that the unexamined life is not worth the living, and he ...
September 5, 2019 Psalm 139:1-6 by Heather Hayes Children's Ministry Director & CLM of Concord UMC Knox (Knoxville, TN) Tennessee Valley District As I read through Psalm 139 I am always left in awe of God’s creation. He created each of us with such ...
September 3, 2019 Luke 14:15-24 by Lynn Mason Laity of Wesley Memorial UMC (Johnson City, TN) Three Rivers District Invitation is a key word in this parable. Guests have been invited to a banquet but they give attention to more urgent matters. The ...
September 3, 2019 Titus 1:1-9 by Kevin S. Richardson Clergy of Fort Gibson UMC (Castlewood, VA) St Paul UMC (Saint Paul, VA) St Paul - Castlewood Appalachian District Have you ever said, “I’m just not feeling it?” That was my response when I ...