Ash Street Church

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05/31/2026

“To The Suffering” 5/31/26

05/31/2026

Sunday Thought:
These Things

“These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:” (Revelation 3:14b, NKJV).

In John chapters 15 and 16, during what is known as the upper room discourse, Jesus admonished his disciples to abide in him and in his love, that their lives might be fruitful to the glory of God. He commanded them to love one another, as he had loved them.

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11, NKJV).

Then he prepared them for what was to come－because Jesus is truth,¹ and sometimes, the truth isn’t pretty.

“. . . If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you . . .” (John 15:20, NKJV).

But he took the time to explain why,² and offered his followers hope in the promise of the Holy Spirit to come. Jesus promised－not only the twelve disciples, but all of us－that the temporary sorrows of this life would be replaced with an everlasting joy. He spoke hard truths, but they were articulated with love and punctuated with victory.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NKJV).

God’s Word is full of “these things,” and the Spirit gives us discernment to understand them,³ that we might ponder them in our hearts.

“. . . Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8, ESV).

Furthermore, Scripture says that we are to teach the things of God, to practice and even immerse ourselves in them.⁴ We need to have a holy perspective on the brevity of this life and the reality of hell, where the lost are headed when their lives are over. Before we Christians allow ourselves to get all snuggled up in our salvation, we need to remember that we too will give an account.

“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12, NKJV).

Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ is our mission in this life.⁵ So put feet to your faith today, because, though he gives us the free will to choose, God tells us what we ought to do. And because faith without works is dead.⁶

It will be hard, but Jesus is our strength.⁷ The world is dark, but he is the light.⁸ The cost may be exacting－but no worldly tribulation can compare to the glory that awaits the child of God in heaven.⁹

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31, NKJV).

¹ John 14:6
² John 15:22-23
³ 1 Corinthians 2:12
⁴ 1 Timothy 4:11,15
⁵ Matthew 28:19
⁶ James 2:26
⁷ Philippians 4:13
⁸ John 8:12
⁹ Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17

- Markie Doczi

05/24/2026

Holy Spirit Day 5/24/26

05/24/2026

Sunday Thought:
The Lukewarm Church

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot . . . So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15,16, NKJV).

The church of Laodicea, to whom John wrote in the book of Revelation, had become lukewarm. Remember, the church is the people－which means that this can, and does, still happen today.

“Never be lacking zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11, NIV).

What does it mean to be spiritually lukewarm? First, we must understand that something becomes tepid because it has cooled down; so, the lukewarm believer is just that, because they have allowed their Holy Spirit fire to dwindle.

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you . . .” (2 Timothy 1:6, NKJV).

I imagine that such folks acknowledge Jesus, call themselves Christians, and go to church once or twice a week . . . but their devotion to God pretty much ends there. Sadly, this often happens when new believers, who start out on fire for Christ, begin to experience difficulties in their Christian walk and become discouraged. It is so important to exhort young Christians! We must always be feeding the spirit and not the flesh－stoking the fire, you might say.

“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:8, NKJV).

When Christians get too comfortable in their own salvation, they become complacent. Have you ever thought something like, 'Wow, that drug addict is pitiful. Thank goodness I’m on My way to heaven?' Or, 'I am sick and tired of asking that person to come to church. At least I’ll go to heaven when I die?'
I know I have. But this is dangerous ground, and we need to be wary of it.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12, NKJV).

Yes, Scripture advises us to use discernment; to know when to shake the dust from our feet and move on from a person or situation.¹ But each of us knows in our heart of hearts what our motives are－and so does God. This is the heart he sees when he looks at us.² So we need to pray for wisdom,³ use discernment, and do our job as representatives of Jesus Christ on this earth.

Faith without works is dead. Jesus doesn’t want apathetic followers－he wants people who will drop what they’re doing, take up their crosses, and follow him, no matter what. He wants us to go into all the world, preaching the gospel⁴ and making disciples. He wants us to be on fire for him. Not lukewarm.⁵

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks . . . Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, NKJV).

¹ Matthew 10:14
² 1 Samuel 16:7
³ James 1:5
⁴ Matthew 28:19
⁵ Deuteronomy 6:5

- Markie Doczi

05/17/2026

The Battle Inside 5/17/26

05/17/2026

Sunday Thought:
Whom Will You Serve?

“So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs” (Judges 3:7, NKJV).

As we read through the Old Testament we see, time and again, the Israelites turning to false gods. Worship is an act of devotion, and while it may seem foolish for God’s people to have bowed down to idols of wood and stone, the truth is, idols are anything that we put before the Lord. So, is it any more reasonable for us as God’s children today to spend more time mindlessly scrolling on our cell phones or channel surfing on the TV than we do with the our heavenly Father?

What sport or other activity do you enjoy so much that you find yourself scheduling everything else around it? Be careful－this is akin to a shrine, and only God should hold that place in our lives. Matthew 6:33 says to seek God first, and Romans 12:1 says that we are to offer our bodies up as living sacrifices to God. A sacrifice is anything consecrated and offered to God; and if you are His child, you were set apart the day you got saved.

“. . . You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11, NIV).

It’s important to understand that there is nothing wrong with having hobbies－I know I have too many to count! It’s when we put them before God that it becomes a sin issue. The Word is alive,¹ and there are more resources available today than there ever have been before. I encourage you to taste and see that the Lord is good!²

"How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103, NKJV).

Spend time in prayer, casting your cares upon the Lord³ and drawing near to him. Read books that inspire you by how God has moved in the lives of others. Keep a prayer journal. (Take it from me that the more you write, the more you will see his hand on your life.)

Most of all, listen. Listen to audio books and testimonies. Listen to worship music. Listen to sermons, pod casts, and Christian radio.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17, NKJV).

I think we all need to check in with ourselves now and then and ask these tough questions. So, have you been bowing down to any idols lately? What are you putting before God on your list of priorities? Surrender it all to him today. Remember what the Lord has done for you, and choose (or choose again) who you will serve.

“. . . Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15, NKJV).

¹ Hebrews 4:12
² Psalm 34:8
³ 1 Peter 5:7

- Markie Doczi

05/13/2026

Come and join us for our first summer picnic this evening! We'll have dinner at 6, with Bible study to follow at 6:30. 🌭 🍔 📖

05/10/2026

A Mother’s Womb 5/10/26

05/10/2026

Sunday Thought:
Pursuing Christ

“O God, You are my God; early I will seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You . . .” (Psalm 63:1, NKJV).

Walking with the Lord should be a full-time occupation of our time. This doesn’t mean we all need to be preachers or missionaries－that would be impractical. It does mean that in all situations and in every circumstance, Jesus needs to be Lord of our lives and the guiding force behind all that we say and do.

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21, NKJV).

Scripture compares the godly life to a fight,¹ because it’s not easy. It takes stamina and discipline. Aside from spiritual warfare, we battle against our own flesh every day; so we need to always be feeding the spirit to strengthen us in our Christian walk.

“Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11b, NKJV).

God is love, and John 3:17 explains that because of his great love, he sent his son Jesus to save all humanity. It is through Jesus that we attain everlasting life,² and him who we need to pursue.

“Don’t just follow Jesus. Pursue Him.”

－Unknown

If we want to follow Christ, we need to pursue all of him. Verses like Jeremiah 29:13 and James 4:8 promise that when we search for God with all our heart, we will find him.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and Psalm 34:14 says to seek peace and pursue it.
He is the Way, and in Matthew 16:24, he said, “Follow Me.”
He is Truth, and John 8:32 says that the truth will set us free.
Jesus is life, and Acts 4:12 affirms that there is no other name by which we must be saved.

The way is difficult, and the path is narrow;³ but even when we are exhausted, let us still be in pursuit.⁴

“Pressing on toward the goal of the upward call in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14, NKJV).

¹ 1 Timothy 6:12
² John 3:16
³ Matthew 7:14
⁴ Judges 8:4

- Markie Doczi

05/03/2026

May 3 Fresh Bread

Address

398 Ash Street
Middleport, OH
45760

Opening Hours

Wednesday 6:30pm - 8pm
Sunday 9:30am - 10:30am
10:30am - 12pm

Telephone

+17409926443

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