Skinner attended Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas where he received a B.A. in Bible and Political Science (1975–1979). He was elected to student senate and served as the class president of the university. He also served as a liaison to carry the student body vote for state representatives, state senate, congressional and U.S. Senate campaigns. He worked as a social outreach worker in charge of juvenile offenders for the Brown County Juvenile Probation Department.
He then attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (1979–1981) where he studied for a Masters in Education before transferring to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas where he received a Masters of Divinity (1981–1984). He also graduated from the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department Reserve Academy and served for two years with the Richland Hills Police Department as a reserve officer.