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
November 11, 2020 Matthew 24:29-35 NRSV Beth Tipton Clergy Wesley Foundation at UVA Wise Appalachian District Matthew 24:29-35 Key Verse: Matthew 24:30 NRSV Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth ...
November 10, 2020 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Mary Charles Blair Lay Ooltewah UMC Hiwassee District 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (6) But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always...
November 9, 2020 Joshua 24:25-33 Danielle Meyers Certified Lay Minister Appointed to Dutch Valley UMC Tennessee Valley District Joshua 24:25-33 New International Version 25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he ...
November 8, 2020 Psalm 78:1-7 Pierce J. (Jack) Edwards First Broad Street UMC Appalachian District Psalm 78:1-7 1 O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, 2 for I will speak to you in a ...
November 7, 2020 Psalm 78:1-7 Carl Jones Clergy Smoky Mountain Psalm 78:1-7 God’s Goodness and Israel’s Ingratitude A Maskil of Asaph. 1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in ...
November 6, 2020 Psalm 78:1-7 Danielle Cooper Clergy First UMC, Hillsville, VA New River District Psalm 78:4 “We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and...
November 5, 2020 Psalms 78:1-7 NIV Brian D. Inman Clergy Peck’s Memorial UMC Smoky Mountain District inmanfunhouse@att.net Psalms 78:1-7 1 My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I ...
November 4, 2020 Psalm 128 NRSV Becky G. Hall Laity Christ UMC Scenic South Lay Leader Psalm 128 NRSV The Happy Home of the Faithful A Song of Ascents. 1 Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. 2 You shall eat the fruit of ...
November 3, 2020 Psalm 128:1-6 NRSV Rev. Charlie Harrison Clergy Kingston United Methodist Church Tennessee Valley District Psalm 128:1-6 NRSV 1 Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. 2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of ...
November 2, 2020 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 NIRV Sam Ward Clergy St Marks UMC 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 NIRV Paul Wants to See the Believers in Thessalonica 17 Brothers and sisters, we were separated from you for a short time. Apart from you, we were ...
November 1, 2020 Psalm 83:1 Zephaniah 3:17 Rev Dr. John Oldham Clergy Retired Scenic South Psalm 83:1 "O God, do not remain quiet. Do not be silent and O God, do not be still." Zephaniah 3:17 "Our Lord will be quiet in His love." Devotion My youngest...
October 31, 2020 Psalm 107:1-7 KJV Gregg Bostick, Clergy Mount Hermon United Methodist Church Tennessee Valley District gdbostick@charter.net Psalm 107: 1 – 7 KJV 107 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. 2 Let ...
October 28, 2020 Matthew 19:16-22 NIV Pat Tipton Clergy Lebanon/Old Union UMC Appalachian District Matthew 10:16-22 NIV 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me ...
October 27, 2020 Exodus 34: 29-35 Brad Scott Clergy First United Methodist Church, Sweetwater, TN Hiwassee District pastorbradscott@gmail.com Exodus 34:29-35 29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets ...
October 26, 2020 James 2:8-13 Brandon Berg Clergy, First UMC Bristol Clinch Mountain District rev.b.r.berg@gmail.com James 2:8-13 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But ...
October 25, 2020 Psalm 90:12-17 NIV Natalie Justice Smyth county Circuit Clinch Mountain District Psalms 90: 12-17 12 So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. 13 Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants! 14 ...
October 24,2020 Psalm 90:1-2 Bob Hayes Clergy Retired Smoky Mountain District Psalm 90:1-2 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from ...
October 23, 2020 Numbers 11:18-23, 31-32 John L. Grimm Clergy First United Methodist Church, Pennington Gap Appalachian District grimm24333@gmail.com Numbers 11:18-23, 31-32 (NRSV) 18 And say to the people: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you...
October 22, 2020 Deuteronomy 31:14-22 Reverend Dr. Peggy L. Meade Holston Counseling Center Appalachian District pmeade@frontierhealth.org or revpeg06121999@gmail.com Deuteronomy 31:14-22 The Lord said to Moses, “Your time to die is near; call Joshua...
Psalm 63:1-8 (NIV) Rev. Dale Gilbert Clergy Pleasant View UMC, Abingdon, VA Clinch Mountain Psalm 63:1-8 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is ...
October 20, 2020 Psalm 63:1-8 Pat Roza Lay Member Burks United Methodist Church Scenic South District Psalm 63:1-8 A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. 1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole ...
October 19, 2020 Exodus 40:34-38; Psalm 63:1-8; Revelation 18:1-10 Walter Johnson Certified Lay Servant Ebeneezer United Methodist Three Rivers District Exodus 40:34-38; Psalm 63:1-8; Revelation 18:1-10 In Exodus 40:34-38, the Israelites would move ...
October 18, 2020 Matthew 22:15-22 Susan Groseclose Clergy Holston Conference Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for Discipleship Smoky Mountain District susangroseclose@holston.org Matthew 22:15-22; CEB 15 Then the Pharisees met together ...
October 17, 2020 Matt. 14:1-12, NIV Mark Reedy Laity Keith Memorial UMC Hiwassee District mareedy88@gmail.com Matthew 14:1-12 John the Baptist Beheaded 14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his ...
October 16, 2020 Psalm 99 Bonnie Lynn Seiber Retired License Local Pastor St. Mark UMC, Clinton< TN Tennessee Valley District Psalm 99 Devotion This is one of the “enthronement psalms.” It is a hymn to Yahweh as the true King of Zion. The word “extol...