The Resurrection in Your Life

by Mike McKinley

Christians often spend time arguing that Jesus rose, but we forget to appreciate why it actually matters. In the follow-up to his brilliant book on the cross, Passion, US pastor and well-known author Mike McKinley considers the revolutionary consequences for each of us of Christ's resurrection, ascension and the sending of his Spirit.

Walk through Luke 24 and Acts 1-2 and discover how the reality that Jesus lives can and should change every aspect of our world.

Whether you're a new or a mature Christian, let the joy, peace, confidence and purpose of the resurrection flood into your everyday life.

Genres: Christian, Theology

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2015

About the author

Mike McKinley is the author of Passion, Did the devil make me do it? and Church Planting is for Wimps. Since 2005 he has been pastor of Guilford Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia. Before that, he served on the pastoral staff of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC, having received his MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary. Mike is married to Karen, and they have five children.

Reviews

[Naomi Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on the resurrection & the powerful impact it has on the rest of our life, such as in the church, peace about the future and Christ's humanity.

Also looks at the Acension & Pentecost.

Easy to read & helpful insights.

I like how he ended each chapter with a hymn. 😊

Greatly recommended.

[Natalie Print · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful, biblical, engaging book about the life-changing difference that Jesus' resurrection makes. Jam-packed with challenge, and encouragement, I found myself underlining so much of it! I chose this to read at our book group at church, and received lots of positive feedback from the group about how helpful it was. Especially recommended as a Lent/Easter book, as it really highlights the importance of the first Easter and how it impacts our lives, but it would be great to read at any point in the year.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a good theology book is another way to receive a good sermon where you can ponder the truth of God’s word and in this particular truth the resurrection of Christ. We have heard the good news of the resurrection. It is finished and how Christ is now at the right hand of God. But do we live in these truths? Do we apply these truths in our hurried, mundane, busy lives as moms, employees, employers, dads, sisters, brothers, and most simply a person created in the image of God? I think you will find new wonderful insights and be in remembrance of what a great God we serve. Remembrance is value that keeps us grounded in the promises of God that we can live in faith of who God is.

I was convicted in many aspects of this study but I also was encouraged as well. The encouragement comes from understanding the good of abiding in Christ in all things.

Each 10 chapters is a manifestation of the resurrection, from the empty tomb to the beginnings of the church. You will find yourself in these chapters. Starting with a scripture, relating to that scripture such as disappointment, digging deeper into scripture and ending with an encouraging hymn, each chapter challenges in what you believe in light of the resurrection.

One of the questions that were challenging to me is do I view God’s judgment as a topic to be avoided or part of the gospel to be communicated. How I answer this question, is how I view the resurrection.

I also appreciated the many new insights that were walked through with clarity in this study. One is how the Pentecost and the Tower of Babel are related. The Tower of Babel was an example of mankind’s rebellion against God. In unity, mankind went to task to build a tower that rejected and ignored God. In response to mankind’s rebellion, the Lord separated man in distance and in language so they could not communicate and be in unity in rebellion towards him. Babel was God’s judgment on human pride and rebellion and Pentecost was the beginning of restoration and reunification. Babel used unity to steal God’s glory and at Pentecost, God restored mankind’s ability to communicate with each other so that they can unite together to praise his mighty works. I loved that!

There were several more but there is great joy in reading this book for yourself! As always taste and see that the Lord is good! He is good indeed.


A complimentary review copy was provided to me by Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own

[Matt Gurtler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christ-focussed, Bible-centred book on the end of Luke and beginning of Acts. Great for devotionals, well-applied and speaks both to the mind and the heart. My only complaint is that it's not as specifically about the resurrection as the title says, and I found it a bit less coherent than "Passion" (McKinley's book on the cross), but it stayed focussed on the Bible passages in question, so I don't mind that too much!

[Matthew Prydden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mike McKinley works through some of the key texts of Jesus' resurrection narrative. Fairly straightforward but very helpfully practical and devotional in its application.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Jesus hung on the cross and died for our sins, that was not the end of the story. Jesus rose from the dead and that changed everything. Author Mike McKinley presents the case that because Jesus' resurecction was a historical event, The Resurrection in Your Life walks through the Easter events to Pentecost in Luke-Acts. In ten short chapters, McKinley walks through ten passages which explore the meaning of Christ's resurrection and ascension and the gift of the Spirit.

Mckinely is the pastor of Sterling Park Baptist Church in Virgina. This book grew out of a sermon series he did (143). Each chapter includes a passage from Luke or Acts, a written sermon on the passage, reflection questions and hymn lyrics which explore the theme. McKinley's theology is traditional Baptist and Reformed leaning.

McKinley is a good communicator and I think I would enjoy listening to these as sermons. He makes judicious conclusions based on his text and relates his theme(s) to life. However, I had hoped that he would be more theological reflective on the meaning of the resurrection and its impact on our life, something similar to Eugene Peterson's Living the Resurrection or Practicing the Resurrection. Instead these are pithy sermons based on resurrection (and ascension and Pentecost) accounts. Fine as far as they go, but I wished for something a little more focused and a little deeper. I love that McKinley sees the integral place that the resurrection has for our salvation, I just wish he unfolded it a little more.

This is a three star book for me, but I don't have any real criticism. I think anyone who reads this book will find points where you are challenged. I underlined several sentences in my copy. I appreciate how passionate McKinley is about how we don't have a dead Jesus but a risen Savior. ★ ★ ★

Notice of material connection, I received this book from Cross Focused Reviews and the Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does the resurrection mean for the christian? For many of us, this is an extremely important question. Christians, young or old seem to have a very shallow understanding on this topic. Mike McKinley has written a helpful and readable book to help christians deepen their understanding in this aspect.

McKinley uses 10 bible passages to teach christians about the implications of the resurrection of Jesus. In the first, he helps to set the context for the readers, to help them see what it was like for the first disciples to hear and see the news that Jesus has resurrected. So often, it is difficult for christians to feel the shock and astonishment the disciples had when they first seen with their own eye the emptied grave. With the context set, McKinley then brings across the various events that happened after Jesus’s resurrection. These includes the journey to Emmaus, Jesus appearing to the disciples in a locked room, Jesus’s ascension to heaven, and many more.

I found this book very well written, it is both full of good theology and it brings out relevant application from each of the passage itself. One recommendation would be for pastors to buy a copy and after reading it, think whether you can do this in the up coming Easter Sunday service, here is a repository for 10 sermons that can be used for the next 10 years. Another recommendation, would be for cell group leader to use this material over 10 years after easter sunday, and in each week, you bring home one teaching with one application that can mould and shape our hearts and mind.

Overall, I found this book helpful, biblical and practical and recommend you to read it too.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I like the style of this book. The chapters are short and accessible. There are study questions at the end of each chapter along with lyrics from older hymns that help get the author's point across. Second, I love the subject of this book. A discussion about Jesus cannot end with His death only, the resurrection must also be a focus. I am reminded of Paul and how when he was teaching in Athens he taught so much about Jesus and the resurrection that the men of Mars Hill thought he was teaching about two separate gods, Jesus and Anastasis (Greek for resurrection). Talk about the resurrection being important to Paul! Finally this book would be a great introduction book, maybe for small groups or something like that.

Now all this having been said this book was not super enjoyable for me. The chapters had lots of good truths in them, and they were mostly straight reformed orthodox, but that was just about it. Not a lot of creative ideas or anecdotes or anything of that nature in this book. Which makes it a bit of a chore to read. That having been said it small bite-size chunks I think this book would have been great. If I could have read it as a devotional and not in a mad rush to get the review out I would have enjoyed it more.

Three stars.

[Amanda Talbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for the book "The Resurrection in Your Life" by Mike McKinley. McKinley goes through the end of the gospel of Luke and the beginning of the book of Acts to speak about how the resurrection absolutely did happen historically, and why that should matter in your life right now. The author begins with the truth that we really do have a risen Savior and ends with why we should be devoted to Him. He speaks of evangelism, Pentecost, the relationship between the Old and New Testaments, and how this all relates to the end of the world, along with several other topics. The book is well-written and easy to read. I was intrigued and loved reading it. Each chapter also contains discussion questions and the lyrics to old, familiar hymns that are relevant to the chapter.

I highly recommend this book. I have not read any other books by Mike McKinley, but I would be interested. As a side note, every single book I have read which was published by The Good Book Company has been phenomenal.

Thank you to Cross Focused Reviews for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[V Luttrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read but I had trouble with some references the author made to movies I did not like such as the hunger games and Harry Potter. Also that a lot of this book was the Bible being retold in Mikes words.

Yet in this short read we can see his love for Christ shinning out. I enjoyed this book for the most part It brings a sense of peace and life in Christ the living Lord.

My favorite quote was " The darkness of midnight does not mean that dawn is never coming.

The Resurrection in Your Life is based on 10 sermons that the author had preached.

1) He is Not Here (Lk 23:54-24:12)
2) Was it Not Necessary? (Lk 24:13-35)
3) The Peace of Certainty (Lk 24:36-49)
4) The Parting (Lk 24:50-53)
5) Leaving to Return (Ac 1:1-11)
6) A New Witness (Ac 1:12-26)
7) Like Tongues of Fire (Ac 2:1-13)
8) The Clock is Ticking (Ac 2:14-21)
9) Because Death Could Not Hold Him (Ac 2:22-41)

The author does a good job reminding us that we have a living Lord. A pleasant read.

[Annie Jeshrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opened my eyes to the rich AND practical truths of resurrection!! A must read.