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 20, 2020 Philippians 1:27 Emalie Love Dockery Lay Leader Central UMC Knoxville Tennessee Valley District EmalieDockery@gmail.com Philippians 1:27 27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come ...
September 19, 2020 Matthew 19:27 Bob McConnell Laity Alleys Chapel UMC Appalachian District Matthew 19:27 27 Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Devotion I worked for a large ...
September 18, 2020 Psalm 105 Rev. Zachary Hash Clergy Clinch Mountain District Psalm 105 1 Give praise to the Lord and announce who he is. Tell the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him. Tell about all the wonderful ...
September 17, 2020 Exodus 15:22-27 Brad Scott Clergy First UMC Sweetwater, TN Hiwassee District Exodus 15: 22-27 Bitter Water Made Sweet 22 Then Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur; they went three days...
September 16, 2020 2 King 2:1-18 Laura A. Shearer Clergy First-Centenary UMC Scenic South District 2 King 2:1-18 Elijah Is Taken Up to Heaven 2 Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. The Lord was going to use a strong wind to take Elijah up...
September 15, 2020 Psalm 119:97-104 David Hudson Lay Leader First-Centenary UMC Scenic South District Psalm 119:97-104 I love your Instruction! I think about it constantly. 98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies because it is ...
September 14, 2020 Psalm 77 Rev Caryl Griffin Russell Retired UMC Elder Tennessee Valley District Psalm 77 An Asaph Psalm 77 I yell out to my God, I yell with all my might, I yell at the top of my lungs. He listens. 2-6 I found myself in trouble ...
September 13, 2020 Matthew 14:1-12 Rev Stephanie Parrott - Deacon Central United Methodist Knoxville Tennessee Valley District Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins ...
September 12, 2020 Matthew 6:7 Rev. John Oldham Pastor of Simpson UMC Pastoral Counselor at Agape Counseling Center Scenic South District Matthew 6:7 7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered ...
September 11, 2020 Psalm 114 Paige Wimberly Clergy Newbern-Mountain View Charge New River District Psalm 114 1 When the Israelites escaped from Egypt— when the family of Jacob left that foreign land— 2 the land of Judah became God’s sanctuary, ...
September 10, 2020 Psalm 114 Susan Groseclose Clergy Holston Conference Assistant Director of Connectional Ministries Smoky Mountain District SusanGroseclose@holston.org Psalm 114 God’s Wonders at the Exodus 1 When Israel went out from Egypt, the...
September 9, 2020 Matthew 21:18-22 Danny Nettleton Clergy Bridle Creek Circuit New River District Englewooddanny@gmail.com Matthew 21:18-22 Jesus Curses the Fig Tree 18 In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig ...
September 8, 2020 Psalm 121 Chris Ray Clergy New Salem UMC Scenic South Psalm 121 A Song of Ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let ...
September 6, 2020 Romans 13:8-12 Danny Nettleton Clergy Bridle Creek Circuit New River District Romans 13:8-12 8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not ...
September 5, 2020 Psalm 149: 1-5 Alexandra Nelson-Tomlinson Clergy / Laity: M.Div, Certified Candidate Concord UMC Tennessee Valley District a.nelson.tomlinson@gmail.com Psalm 149: 1-5 1 Praise the Lord.[a] Sing to the Lord a new song, his ...
September 4, 2020 Exodus 10:21-29 (NRSV) C.Don Jones Clergy Sycamore Tree United Methodist Church Smoky Mountain District Exodus 10:21-29 21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven so that there may be darkness over the land...
September 3, 2020 Psalm 149 (NLT) Pierce J. (Jack) Edwards Retired Elder First Broad Street United Methodist Church Appalachian District Psalm 149 1 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. 2...
September 2, 2020 Matthew 12:22-32 Rev. Mike Sluder Clergy Holston Conference Director of Connectional Ministries Smoky Mountain District mikesluder@holston.org Matthew 12:22-32 22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, ...
September 1, 2020 Exodus 5:22-23, 6:6-8 Rev. Debbie McCard Stokes Clergy Minister of Congregational Care Christ United Methodist Church, Scenic South District associate@christchurchchatt.org Exodus 5:22-23, 6:6-8 22-23 Moses went back to God and ...
August 31, 2020 Revelation 3:1-6 Julia Mays Laity Lonsdale United Methodist Church Tennessee Valley District Revelations 3:1-6 “To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the ...
August 30, 2020 Exodus:1-15 Charles W. Maynard Clergy Cokesbury UMC Smoky Mountain District Exodus 3:1-15 3 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and ...
August 29, 2020 Psalm 105 Mary Charles Blair Chair, Church Council Ooltewah UMC Hiwassee District Psalm 105 1 Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. 2 Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all ...
August 28, 2020 Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26,45 Danielle Meyers Certified Lay Minister Dutch Valley UMC Tennessee Valley Psalm 105: 1-6,23-26,45 1 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, ...
August 27, 2020 Exodus 2:23-24 Chris Brown Clergy Colonial Heights United Methodist Church – Kingsport Appalachian dukevol@gmail.com Exodus 2:23-24 23 During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried...
August 26, 2020 Psalm 8 Brad Scott Clergy First United Methodist Church Sweetwater, TN Hiwassee District Psalm 8 1 O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the ...