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
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December 31, 2021 Sandra Failing Certified Lay Speaker Tennessee Valley District 1 Kings 3:5-14 CEB Solomon first meets God 3 Solomon became the son-in-law of Pharaoh, Egypt’s king, when he married Pharaoh’s daughter. He brought her to David’s City ...
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December 30, 2021 Cindy Stulce Laity, First-Centenary UMC Scenic South District 2 Chron. 1:7-13 (Common English Bible) 7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 8 “You showed so much kindness ...
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December 29, 2021 John Maiuri Laity Hiwassee District Psalm 147: 12-20 PRAISE THE LORD! 12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion. 13 He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. 14 He grants peace to ...
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December 28, 2021 Caryl Griffin Russell Retired Clergy First United Methodist Church Oak Ridge Tennessee Valley District. The Life-Light John 1:1-18. THE MESSAGE 1 1-2 The Word was first. the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word...
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December 27, 2021 Steve Abercrombie Laity Tennessee Valley District Psalm 72 (NIV) Jeremiah 31:7-14 (NIV) John 1:10-18 (NIV) Devotion We have made it through another Holiday season. Highlighted by the events we participated in that rejoiced the birth...
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December 26, 2021 Danny Nettleton Clergy, Bridle Creek Circuit New River District Luke 2:22-24 (NRSV) 22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is...
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church.
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December 23, 2021 Renni P. Morris Laity Tennessee Valley District The Magnificat Luke 1:46b-55 (NRSV) Mary’s Song of Praise 46 And Mary[a] said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with ...
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December 22, 2021 Eric Bronkala Clergy Tennessee Valley District Micah 4:1-5 (NRSV) Peace and Security through Obedience 4 In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be ...
Christmas Eve: God Broke Through the Hopelessness with Hope Luke 2:25-40 Years ago my mother and I travelled to Oxford, England to be with my sister Barbara and her husband Kevin for a few days after their son Joseph’s birth. The plan was for us to...
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December 21, 2021 Dr. John Oldham Scenic City District Clergy/Pastoral Counselor Philippians 4:5- ..."The Lord is Near." 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Devotion "Getting NEARER to BabyJesus!" Easter And Christmas Sundays ...
Christmas Eve: God Broke Through the Hopelessness with Hope Luke 2:25-40 Years ago my mother and I travelled to Oxford, England to be with my sister Barbara and her husband Kevin for a few days after their son Joseph’s birth. The plan was for us to...
Christmas Eve: God Broke Through the Hopelessness with Hope Luke 2:25-40 Years ago my mother and I travelled to Oxford, England to be with my sister Barbara and her husband Kevin for a few days after their son Joseph’s birth. The plan was for us to...
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December 20, 2021 Susan Collins Laity Scenic South District Colossians 1: 15-20 NIV 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and ...
Read Together January 2, 2022 Matthew 1-2 (CEB) Mateo 1-2 (RVR1960) Genealogy of Jesus 1 A record of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father ...
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December 19, 2021 Leslie Daniels Clergy Tennessee Valley District “Now What?” John 21: 19b-24 (NLT) 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” 20 Peter turned around and saw behind...
December 18, 2021 Bob McConnell Laity Alleys Chapel UMC Appalachian District Isaiah 66:7-11(NLT) Isa 66:7 “Before the birth pains even begin, Jerusalem gives birth to a son. Isa 66:8 Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of...
December 17, 2021 Michael Somers Clergy Cameron / Ross Camp Ground UMC Appalachian District Hebrews 10:32 - 39, New American Standard Bible 32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33...
December 16, 2021 Pierce J. (Jack) Edwards Clergy Appalachian District Psalm 80:1-7 (NIV) How Long O Lord For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm. 1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead ...
December 15, 2021 Jim Hager Laity Three Rivers District Piney Flats UMC Luke 7:31-32 31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and ...
December 14, 2021 Norman D. Holcomb, Jr., PhD CAPT, CHC, USN (Ret) Clergy Smoky Mountain District Psalm 100 (RSV) All Lands Summoned to Praise God A Psalm for the thank offering. 100 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands![a] 2 Serve the ...
December 13, 2021 Laura Feely Ashline Laity First-Centenary UMC Scenic South District A Transformative Shoot Isaiah 11:1-9 (NIV) 11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord ...
December 12, 2021 Stephen Hopkins Clergy Kendricks Creek UMC Appalachian District Zephaniah 3:14-20 (NIV) 14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away ...
December 11, 2021 Dona Bunch Laity Church Street United Methodist Church Tennessee Valley District Luke 1:57-66 (NIV) The Birth of John the Baptist 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and ...
December 10, 2021 Terry Goodman Clergy Smoky Mountain District 2 Kings 22:1-10 (NIV) The Book of the Law Found 22 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of ...