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
December 31, 2020 1 Kings 3:5-14 NIV Robert Sutton Clergy Pittman Center Circuit Smoky Mountain District 1 Kings 3:5-14 NIV 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you....
December 30, 2020 Lisa Nichols Jubilee Project Devotion “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything it in will be laid bare. ...
December 29, 2020 Matthew 12:46-50Walter Johnson Certified Lay Servant Ebenezer United Methodist Three Rivers District Matthew 12:46-50 Jesus’ Mother and Brothers 46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside. ...
December 28, 2020 Matthew 2:13-18 Becky Hall Christ UMC Chattanooga District Lay Leader Scenic South Matthew 2:13-18 3 When the Wise Men had left, Joseph had a dream. In the dream an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph. “Get up!” the angel ...
December 27, 2020 Ed Helton Laity Rising Fawn UMC Scenic South District Devotion As I wind down the year and reflect, I wonder why I should be giving praise to God in a time when so many lives were lost to such a devastating disease. So many lives ...
December 26, 2020 Acts 6:8-15; 7:51-60 Nancy Alley Certified Lay Servant Prospect United Methodist Church Appalachian District Acts 7:51-60 51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just ...
December 25, 2020 Luke 2:1-20 Bishop Dindy Taylor Resident Bishop Holston Annual Conference Luke 2:1-20 Devotion Who Doesn’t Love A Good Story? Throughout the year, I enjoy watching Hallmark movies. You can always count on the two main characters ...
December 24, 2020 Luke 2:1-20 Rev. Jeff Wright District Superintendent Appalachian District Luke 2:1-20 In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken ...
December 23, 2020 Mark 11:1-11 Rev. Kimberly Goddard District Superintendent New River District Mark 11:1-11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “...
December 22, 2020 1 Samuel 1:19-28 Rev. Rusty Taylor Clergy Congregational Development and Revitalization Holston Conference Smoky Mountain District 1 Samuel 1:19-28 19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back...
December 21, 2020 Rev Angela Hardy Cross Clergy District Superintendent Mountain View District Luke 1:46b- 55 1 Sam 1: 1-18 Hebrew 9:1-14 Devotion Mary Made A Choice Can you imagine being a young woman, about 14 years of age, pregnant, unmarried, and...
December 20, 2020 Luke 1:46b-55 Jane Taylor Clergy District Superintendent Clinch Mountain District Luke 1:46b-55 1:46b "My soul magnifies the Lord, 1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of ...
December 19, 2020 John 7:40-52 NRSV Reed Shell Clergy Scenic South District John 7:40-52 Division among the People 40 When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.”[a] But ...
December 18, 2020 Psalm 89:19-26 Rev. Terry Goodman Secretary of the Annual Conference/Director of Clergy Services Smoky Mountain District Psalm 89:19-26 19 Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength ...
December 17, 2020 Revelation 22:20-21 Danny Nettleton Clergy Bridle Creek Circuit New River District Revelation 22:20-21 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with...
December 16, 2020 Romans 5:1-5 Jason Gattis Clergy District Superintendent Smoky Mountain District Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained ...
December 15, 2020 Ann Robins Clergy District Superintendent Tennessee Valley Devotion It has been a year like no other! We are a tired people. We have been dealing with racism, a pandemic of the soul, which has hurt God’s beloved children for too ...
December 14, 2020 1Kings 18:1-15 Hugh Kilgore Clergy District Superintendent Hiwassee District 1 Kings 18:1-15 18 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the...
December 13, 2020 Isaiah 61:1-4 Reverend Leah Burns Clergy Lennon-Seney UMC Tennessee Valley District Isaiah 61:1-4 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to...
December 12, 2020 Matthew 21:28-32 Joe Lobertini Laity Middlebrook Pike UMC Tennessee Valley District Matthew 21:28-32 The Parable of the Two Sons 28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and ...
December 11, 2020 Philippians 3:12-16 Joanna Corvin Laity New River District-Administrative Assistant Stevens Creek United Methodist Church Philippians 3:12-16 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I ...
December 10, 2020 Phil. 3:7-11 Bob McConnell Laity Alleys Chapel UMC Appalachian District Phil. 3:7-11 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the ...
December 9, 2020 Mark 1:1-8 Jackie Carpenter Clergy Morrison Chapel United Methodist Church Appalachian District Mark 1:1-8 NIV John the Baptist Prepares the Way 1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b] 2 as it ...
December 8, 2020 Acts 11:1-18 NIV Rev. Doug Silvers Clergy New River Acts 11:1-18 Peter Explains His Actions 11 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to ...
December 7, 2020 Psalm 27 CEB Paige Wimberly Clergy Newbern-Mountain View Charge New River District Psalm 27:1-14 CEB 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation. Should I fear anyone? The LORD is a fortress protecting my life. Should I be frightened of ...