Mike Shinnick - Learner/Apprentice of Christ

  Do you have a favorite verse in the Bible?  You want to know one of my all time favorites?  It's   It's 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 : ... Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.  He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. How does this speak to you?  For Christ really to be in control of my life, I must have a deep connection to His love for me.  Where do I find that connection?  Certainly one way is to contemplate all of the grace and blessing that I have experienced in walking with Him.  Perhaps the most substantial way is to witness, through His word, just how much He loves me.   Take for example Ephesians 3:16-20 : I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spir...

Jesus used the phrase, "the Gospel of the Kingdom",  five times in the new testament.  And, perhaps most notable, the following verse: This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.  Matthew 24:14 It's an interesting comment, but what did he mean?  To Jewish believers, it would not have been a foreign concept.  You see, in Jesus's day, they were anticipating a time when their messiah (the Davidic King) would bring forth a kingdom era, overshadowing all the kingdoms of the world.  However, many Jews of that day were shortsighted.  They had in mind supplanting Roman oppression, rather than the much broader view supported by the following verses:  The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.  ...

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure , buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44 Have you ever asked yourself, what am I living for?  Perhaps it's a job, your family, or  earthly wealth and what all it can buy.  But think about it.  All of these are quickly passing, aren't they?  What is left at the end of our lives is what supremely counts!  Jesus described the kingdom of heaven (a material age after this one) as a priceless treasure .  And all the gold in the world cannot buy it.  But what does it take for us to experience the everlasting joys of this coming kingdom?   Let's look at what Jesus said about the kingdom in the book of Luke.  Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able...   Luke 13:24a In the same way, if you want to be My disciple, it will co...

My faith walk has taken a significant turn over recent years.  It all began with a book recommendation from my son, Will.  The book is entitled  Gospel of Christ Crucified, a Theology of Suffering Before Glory  by John Harrigan.   I've poured through the book three times in an attempt to take it all in.  Subsequently, I read John's doctoral dissertation entitled Extending Mercy to the Gentiles, The Jewish Apocalyptic Trajectory of Pauline Discipleship .  Over the last year, I attended two of John's conferences here in Tennessee.   Sometime during this period I was introduced to the Apocalyptic Gospel Podcasts which has broadened my faith a great deal.  Through these podcasts and John's conferences, I was introduced to Bill Scofield, somewhat of a mentor of mine, whose ministry resides in Redding, California.  Through an online Bible study, one of the participants shared with us a Messianic Jewish ministry called ...