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 22, 2022 Proverbs 25 (CEB) Proverbios 25 (RVR1960) Proverbs 25 More proverbs of Solomon These are also proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah: 2 It is the glory of God to hide something and the glory of kings...
September 21, 2022 Psalms 111-113 (CEB) Salmos 111-113 (RVR1960) Psalm 111 Praise the Lord! I thank the Lord with all my heart in the company of those who do right, in the congregation. 2 The works of the Lord are magnificent; they are ...
September 20, 2022 2 Chronicles 1-5 (CEB) 2 Crónicas 1-5 (RVR1960) 2 Chronicles 1 Solomon first meets God Solomon, David’s son, was securely established over his kingdom because the Lord his God was with him and made him very great. 2 Solomon ...
September 19, 2022 Numbers 21-24 (CEB) Números 21-24 (RVR1960) Numbers 21 Defeat of the Canaanite king of Arad When the Canaanite king of Arad, who ruled in the arid southern plain, heard that the Israelites were coming on the Atharim road, he ...
September 18, 2022 John 19-21 (CEB) Juan 19-21 (RVR1960) John 19 Jesus is whipped and mocked as king Then Pilate had Jesus taken and whipped. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe....
September 17, 2022 Titus 1-3 (CEB) Tito 1-3 (RVR1960) Titus 1 Greeting From Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I’m sent to bring about the faith of God’s chosen people and a knowledge of the truth that agrees with godliness. 2 ...
September 16, 2022 Amos 1-4 (CEB) Amós 1-4 (RVR1960) Amos 1 Introduction These are the words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa. He perceived these things concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days of Judah’s King Uzziah and ...
September 15, 2022 Proverbs 23-24 (CEB) Proverbios 23-24 (RVR1960) Proverbs 23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, carefully consider what is in front of you. 2 Place a knife at your throat to control your appetite. 3 Don’t long for the ...
September 14, 2022 Psalms 108-110 (CEB) Salmos 108-110 (RVR1960) Psalm 108 A song. A psalm of David. My heart is unwavering, God. I will sing and make music— yes, with my whole being! 2 Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake the dawn ...
September 13, 2022 1 Chronicles 25-29 (CEB) 1 Crónicas 25-29 (RVR1960) 1 Chronicles 25 Temple musicians David and the army officers set apart Asaph’s family, Heman and Jeduthun, for service to prophesy accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals. This ...
September 12, 2022 Numbers 17-20 (CEB) Números 17-20 (RVR1960) Numbers 17 Aaron’s budding staff The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 Speak to the Israelites and take from them a staff from each household, from each of the chiefs of their households, twelve ...
September 11, 2022 John 16-18 (CEB) Juan 16-18 (RVR1960) John 16 1 I have said these things to you so that you won’t fall away. 2 They will expel you from the synagogue. The time is coming when those who kill you will think that they are doing a ...
September 10, 2022 2 Timothy 3-4 (CEB) 2 Timoteo 3-4 (RVR1960)) 2 Timothy 3 Avoid people like this Understand that the last days will be dangerous times. 2 People will be selfish and love money. They will be the kind of people who brag and who are ...
September 9, 2022 Joel 1-3 (CEB) Joel 1-3 (RVR1960) Joel 1 Song of lament The Lord’s word that came to Joel, Pethuel’s son: 2 Hear this, elders; pay attention, everyone in the land! Has anything like this ever happened in your days, or in ...
September 8, 2022 Proverbs 22 (CEB) Proverbios 22 (RVR1960) Proverbs 22 A good reputation is better than much wealth; high esteem is better than silver and gold. 2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both. 3 Prudent...
September 7, 2022 Psalms 105-107 (CEB) Salmos 105-107 (RVR1960) Psalm 105 Give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make his deeds known to all people! 2 Sing to God; sing praises to the Lord; dwell on all his wondrous works! 3 ...
September 6, 2022 1 Chronicles 20-24 (CEB) 1 Crónicas 20-24 (RVR1960) 1 Chronicles 20 Defeat of the Ammonites In the spring, the time when kings go to war, Joab marched out with the army, destroyed the land of the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. ...
September 5, 2022 Numbers 13-16 (CEB) Números 13-16 (RVR1960) Numbers 13 Leaders explore the land of Canaan The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, which I’m giving to the Israelites. Send one man from each ancestral ...
September 4, 2022 John 13-15 (CEB) Juan 13-15 (RVR1960) John 13 Foot washing Before the Festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them ...
September 3, 2022 2 Timothy 1-2 (CEB) 2 Timoteo 1-2 (RVR1960) 2 Timothy 1 Greeting From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, to promote the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. 2 To Timothy, my dear child. Grace, mercy, and peace from...
September 2, 2022 Hosea 8-14 (CEB) Oseas 8-14 (RVR1960) Hosea 8 Divine proclamation about Israel’s idolatry Put a trumpet to your lips! It’s as if a bird of prey has flown over the Lord’s house, because they have broken my covenant, ...
September 1, 2022 Proverbs 20-21 (CEB) Proverbios 20-21 (RVR1960) Proverbs 20 Wine is a mocker; beer a carouser. Those it leads astray won’t become wise. 2 A king is as terrifying as a lion’s growl. Those who anger him may lose their life. 3...
August 31, 2022 Psalms 102-104 (CEB) Salmos 102-104 (RVR1960) Psalm 102 A prayer of an oppressed person, when weak and pouring out grief to the Lord. Lord, hear my prayer! Let my cry reach you! 2 Don’t hide your face from me in my time of ...
August 30, 2022 1 Chronicles 15-19 (CEB) 1 Crónicas 15-19 (RVR1960) 1 Chronicles 15 David prepares to bring the chest to Jerusalem After he had built houses for himself in David’s City, David prepared a place for God’s chest and pitched a tent for ...
August 29, 2022 Numbers 9-12 (CEB) Números 9-12 (RVR1960) Numbers 9 Passover The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert in the first month of the second year after they had left the land of Egypt: 2 Let the Israelites keep the Passover at its ...