Tag Archives: seminary

Words of Wisdom from the Past

Posted on November 10, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The two most educational classes that I took in seminary was Church History 1 and 2. The first class focused on the first three centuries of the Christian Church. The second spanned nearly 1,000 years, highlighting the most influential theologians and spiritual leaders of their generation. The one that made the greatest impact on my life was Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo.

And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them, for they were overthrown and strewn down along [the ground] in the wilderness. 6 Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did, 1 Corinthians 10:4-6.

If you search the works and writings of Augustine, you’ll find numerous pages of his beliefs on a variety of topics. Augustine’s Call for Unity within the church is one of many influential pieces that are referenced today. Despite any theological differences dominations may have, Augustine called leaders to come together in agreement by uniting under the essentials of the Christian faith.

Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. 13 For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not [b]adjusted and [c]adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to [d]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

The apostle Paul uses past mistakes made by the nation of Israel to warn first century Christians from repeating history. In another letter to the Church of Corinth, Paul reminds this congregation to walk by faith, not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Remember, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, Albert Einstein. May the words of the Bible provide for you the wisdom that you need so that you can enjoy a prosperous future.

by Jay Mankus

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This World Doesn’t Need Another Pharisee

Posted on November 9, 2023 by expressyourself4him

As a former seminary student, I’m turned off by individuals who like to brag and show off. As a young college student just starting my faith journey with God, there was always at least one person who tried to impress my Sunday School teacher. While some of the information shared was beneficial for the topic at hand, this world doesn’t need another Pharisee.

Now listen and give heed, O Israel, to the statutes and ordinances which I teach you, and do them, that you may live and go in and possess the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, gives you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you, Deuteronomy 4:2.

Unfortunately, human nature causes many people in life to fall back on humanism, Judges 21:25. Rather than honoring and holding fast to the Bible, doing what’s right in your own eyes is the easy thing to do. When you add pride to this equation, no one wants another leader to live by the motto, “do what I say, not as I do.” These are the kind of people Jesus confronted in His day.

Now when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced ([d]muzzled) the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of their number, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test Him. 36 Teacher, which [e]kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light—which are heavy?] 37 And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). 38 This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. 40 These two commandments [f]sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets, Matthew 22:34-40.

Another subtitle for Matthew 22 could be,” I’m smarter than you” as a number of Pharisees tried to trick Jesus. One by one came and each left disappointed as Jesus was unwilling to over emphasize or minimize commands in the Bible. Matthew points out that Jesus muzzled the Pharisees by shutting down their attempts to add and subtract to the Bible. Rather than correct everyone, avoid the urge to be a modern-day Pharisee by demonstrating God’s grace and love daily.

by Jay Mankus

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Questions about the Afterlife

Posted on October 7, 2023 by expressyourself4him

As a former seminary student, I’m always curious to hear what kind of message is presented at a funeral. Unless my ears are deceiving me, nearly every speaker assumes that the individual lying in a coffin is now in heaven. If you listen to the words of Jesus in the passage below, just the opposite appears to be true. This is just one lingering question about the afterlife.

Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. 14 But the gate is narrow (contracted [k]by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it, Matthew 7:13-14.

Except for those individuals for who experienced a near death experience, the afterlife and heaven remain a mystery. All Christians have is the promise of John 14:1-4 and 1 John 5:11-13 in the Bible. The author of Hebrews refers to members of the Old Testament of dying prior to receiving what was promised to them by God. The key to securing a place in heaven is faith.

For it is impossible [to restore and bring again to repentance] those who have been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and have become sharers of the Holy Spirit, 5 And have felt how good the Word of God is and the mighty powers of the age and world to come, 6 If they then deviate from the faith and turn away from their allegiance—[it is impossible] to bring them back to repentance, for (because, while, as long as) they nail upon the cross the Son of God afresh [as far as they are concerned] and are holding [Him] up to contempt and shame and public disgrace, Hebrews 6:4-6.

Jesus alludes to the above passage in his Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:18-19. Can you lose your salvation? Well, to those who are infant Christians, not fully knowing the decision they just made, they can slip away if the Devil steals what was sown in their heart. Meanwhile, to those who pervert God’s grace with addictions to their flesh also may find their selves on the outside looking in. Don’t take the chance of walking on this fence spiritually. Rather, habitually walk with God daily to confirm your spiritual reservation in heaven.

by Jay Mankus

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A Sign of a Mature Faith

Posted on July 7, 2023 by expressyourself4him

A friend in college told me about a truth from the apostle Paul’s confession in 1 Timothy 1:15. While writing a teenage Pastor, Paul refers to himself as the greatest sinner of all time. The premise my friend shared is that the closer you draw near to God, the more your imperfections are exposed. Subsequently, a sign of a mature Christian faith is the acknowledgement that Jesus must become more, and you must become less.

I indeed baptize you [c]in (with) water [d]because of repentance [that is, because of your [e]changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fan (shovel, fork) is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out and clean His threshing floor and gather and store His wheat in His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with fire that cannot be put out. 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. 14 But John [f]protested strenuously, having in mind to prevent Him, saying, It is I who have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me? 15 But Jesus replied to him, [g]Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to [h]perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him, Matthew 3:11-15.

My favorite class in Seminary was Revival and Revivalism. This course studied the spiritual climate just before and immediately following the first and second Great Awakening. The content in this course was enhanced by the teaching of Leonard Ravenhill which I often listened to while I worked at Ton Communications. According to Ravenhill, these movements of God began with Christians honestly addressing the sins in their lives. These public confessions sparked spiritual awakenings.

You yourselves are my witnesses [you personally bear me out] that I stated, I am not the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), but I have [only] been sent before Him [in advance of Him, to be His appointed forerunner, His messenger, His announcer]. 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the groomsman who stands by and listens to him rejoices greatly and heartily on account of the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my pleasure and joy, and it is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so,] John 3:28-30.

If you want to examine a great example of mature faith in the Bible, you can begin with John the Baptist. The first mention of John begins with Isaiah 40:3, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” As John drew a large following from his baptism ministry, pride could have gotten in the way. “Hey, look what I’ve done!” Yet, when the timing was right, John acknowledged his role, “Jesus must become more and I must become less.” This is the type of faith modern Christians need to begin to emulate.

by Jay Mankus

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My Lot in Life

Posted on July 4, 2023 by expressyourself4him

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that the Bible was no longer relevant, “merely a book that’s out of date with modern times,” I’d be a millionaire. Perhaps, this one question drove me to attend seminary and become a high school Bible teacher. I spent a decade of my life seeking to bring the accounts of the Bible to life. This quest led me to words of Jacob, reflecting upon his lowly life of a herdsman and shepherd.

These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your she-goats have not lost their young, and the rams of your flock have not been eaten by me. 39 I did not bring you [the carcasses of the animals] torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss of it; you required of me [to make good] all that was stolen, whether it occurred by day or by night. 40 This was [my lot]; by day the heat consumed me and by night the cold, and I could not sleep, Genesis 31:38-40.

When teachers first asked me as a child what I wanted to be when I grew up, I was urged to shoot for the moon so to speak. I dreamed of being a marine biologist as well as a famous golf course architect. Despite working hard to pursue each of these goals, my life hasn’t worked out exactly how I had hoped. Subsequently, as I recently studied the life of Jacob, I had to come to grips with my own lot in life. While this may change, I’m currently a blue-collar worker.

[I thank my God] for your fellowship (your [a]sympathetic cooperation and contributions and partnership) in advancing the good news (the Gospel) from the first day [you heard it] until now. 6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you, Philippians 1:5-6.

If I ever met you for the first time, you could tell from my hands that I like to work in the dirt. Although my dream of designing golf courses never materialized, I enjoy hardscaping, landscaping and recently completed a synthetic golf course using a brick wall as a backdrop. Rather than write a typical Independence Day blog, I wanted my readers to consider their own lot in life. If you’re not sure what your lot is or want to make more of a difference in life, follow the apostle Paul’s advice in Romans 12:1-2 so that next year you can celebrate how God has blessed your life.

by Jay Mankus

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That’s Not What I Was Told

Posted on June 10, 2023 by expressyourself4him

When I moved from Chicago to Delaware to attend seminary, my mind was bombarded with so much new information. Some of this content backed up what I already believed, but there were many things that contradicted what I was told as a new Christian in high school. The most practical class that I took was Expository Preaching, based upon the biblical principle of studying the Bible line by line and verse by verse. The purpose of this class was to avoid the temptation of making the Bible say what you want it to say.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome, Jeremiah 29:11.

There are currently 104 different versions of the Bible which you can purchase. If you’re a pastor doing research for your next sermon, there may be a temptation to quote and use only the versions that highlight this message. Unless there is a member of this congregation who follows in the footsteps of the Bereans, Acts 17:10-11, no one will question what is being taught. Depending upon the current climate in your church, there may be some who are afraid to raise their voice, silently pondering, “that’s not what I was told.”

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you, Philippians 1:6.

One of the reasons why attending seminary is difficult is that Christian’s are forced to re-examine everything they thought they knew about the Bible. Any student who is not fully grounded, Colossians 2:6-7, becomes susceptible to falling prey to false teaching, 1 Timothy 4:1-2. The best perspective for any aspiring student is by falling in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis. While writing Mere Christianity, Lewis refers to progress as the process of arriving. As long as Christians continue to learn by meditating on God’s Word, Joshua 1:8, any disagreements will be ironed out over time.

by Jay Mankus

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Making God Your Top Priority in 2023

Posted on January 18, 2023 by expressyourself4him

A top priority refers to something of greatest importance. While attending Seminary, one of my professors introduced me to the Triangle Theory. Based upon time management, a triangle diagram is used as an aide to analyze how you spend your time outside of sleeping. When you do an honest assessment of your day-to-day activities, the average hours you invest in this or that will highlight what your top priority is at this moment in time.

And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a [u]deserted place, and there He prayed. 36 And Simon [Peter] and those who were with him followed Him [[v]pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out], 37 And they found Him and said to Him, Everybody is looking for You. 38 And He said to them, Let us be going on into the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out, Mark 1:35-38.

One of Paul’s missionary helpers, John Mark, recalls a story told to him by one of Jesus’ disciples. While the disciples slept in, Jesus got up early in the morning to go walking in the wilderness. After finding a quiet place, Jesus prays to his heavenly Father. Based upon the words above, Jesus top priority to begin each day was seeking guidance from God to determine where He wanted Jesus to go and what God wanted Him to do.

But seek ([z]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([aa]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [ab]taken together will be given you besides. 34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble, Matthew 6:33-34.

Perhaps, the Sermon on the Mount provides an introduction to Jesus’ prayer life. This insight begins with the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:1-15. After fasting is touched upon, Jesus concludes this section of his message on what Christians should strive for: hunger and thirst for righteousness. When God becomes your top priority, your mindset changes from earth toward heaven. The apostle Paul lays this out in Colossians 3:1-17. May these passages of the Bible inspire you to make Jesus Lord of all in 2023.

by Jay Mankus

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The First Dark Age on Earth

Posted on January 3, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Modern historians tend to politicize their beliefs and subsequently rewrite history based upon their own worldview. This may explain the recent introduction of terms like Migration Period and Early Middle Ages to replace what my old textbooks called the Dark Ages. This secular period from 476–800 AD marks a gradual transition away from following God after Constantine’s influence on the Roman Empire. The apostle Paul would refer to this as letting your sinful nature run free, Galatians 5:16-21.

When men began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair, and they took wives of all they desired and chose. 3 Then the Lord said, My Spirit shall not forever dwell and strive with man, for he also is flesh; but his days shall yet be 120 years, Genesis 6:1-3.

Despite what I was taught in Seminary, there isn’t nearly enough content to highlight the First Dark Age on Earth. Shortly after Enoch’s legacy of faith was forgotten, mankind took a turn for the worse. The words of Moses paint the picture of the thoughts going on inside the people on earth: “every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually. ” Meanwhile, their intentions were far worse: The earth was depraved and putrid in God’s sight, and the land was filled with violence (desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power), Genesis 6:11.

There were giants on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually, Genesis 6:4-5.

The Bible is full of verses containing light and darkness. When you walk with God in Psalm 1 and 1 John 1, you are living in the light of Christ. However, anyone who stops walking with God due to busy-ness, carelessness, forgetfulness, idleness, or rebellion will quickly find themselves in darkness. According to Moses, walking with God and not walking with God is the difference between blessings and curses, Deuteronomy 28. May you make room in your life for Jesus in 2023 so you avoid the pain of a personal dark age on earth without God, John 15:1-5.

by Jay Mankus

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The First Resurrection

Posted on November 1, 2022 by expressyourself4him

My first seminary class was Systematic Theology II. At the time, I was working two jobs and taking one class each semester. This first class was so mentally exhausting, I realized that I needed to give my mind a break, listening to something interesting. One of my bosses let me listen to Leonard Ravenhill who was a famous speaker on Prayer and Revival. Ravenhill introduced me to the term the first resurrection.

The remainder of the dead were not restored to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection, Revelation 20:5.

Unfortunately, it’s been 25 years since I last listened to Ravenhill’s teachings. Since this time, Leonard has passed away and I don’t recall much so it’s time to revisit the first resurrection. Initially, I was baffled as n my mind I kept thinking about Jesus’ resurrection, Matthew 28:1-6. The words John uses to describe the first resurrection is protos anastasis in Greek. John refers to standing up again to live.

Blessed (happy, [a]to be envied) and holy (spiritually whole, of unimpaired innocence and proved virtue) is the person who takes part (shares) in the first resurrection! Over them the second death exerts no power or authority, but they shall be ministers of God and of Christ (the Messiah), and they shall rule along with Him a thousand years, Revelation 20:6.

The thousand years only makes this matter more confusing. However, when you consider the words of 2 Peter 3:8, one thousand years is like one day with the Lord. Therefore, the point John is attempting to make is similar to Jesus’ message to Nicodemus in John 3:1-5. The first resurrection is to be reborn by getting up to live again. May today’s blog inspire you to become a new creation in Christ Jesus like Mac Powell’s newest song.

by Jay Mankus

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When Darkness Blinds Your Eyes

Posted on April 13, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Twenty-five years ago, I moved back to the East Coast to attend seminary. While pursuing my masters, I two worked jobs and took classes at night. While this schedule was grueling at times, I felt called to complete this higher education. After completing one third of my classes, I contracted a severe case of iritis. Following a trip to an emergency room, I was hurled into darkness with my future vision in doubt.

But he who hates (detests, despises) his brother [[i]in Christ] is in darkness and walking (living) in the dark; he is straying and does not perceive or know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes, 1 John 2:11.

One of Jesus’ disciples is referring to a spiritual form of blindness. John isn’t taking about planks in your eyes that impairs your vision, Matthew 7:1-5. Rather, addictions, bad habits, and sinful tendencies allow darkness to enter your life. This spiritual darkness often prevents you from seeing clearly, unable to confront a sinful lifestyle that is so obvious to everyone who cares about you.

To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me, Acts 26:18.

According to Luke who just happens to be a doctor, Satan has the power to blind Christians. When your life is filled with darkness, your objectivity and perception to change is clouded. One of the ways to restore your spiritual vision is through confession and contrition. Another way to restore your sight is by reading and studying the Bible. As you uncover truth, the truth will set you free from sin, John 8:32.

by Jay Mankus

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