Episode Summary:

Picture walking into a neighborhood bakery and sensing something deeper than the smell of fresh bread - an atmosphere charged with love, peace, and transformation. What if that bakery wasn’t just a place to satisfy your hunger, but a place where heaven meets earth, and lives are transformed daily?

In this episode of the As in Heaven podcast, we uncover how one woman, Deniz Koprulu, went from opening a small bakery in Toronto to becoming a beacon of hope and spiritual transformation, turning her bakery into an Ecclesia—a gathering place where Jesus shows up every day.

Her story invites us to consider how we can bring the presence of heaven into our everyday spaces.

Key Takeaways:

1. God shows up in unexpected places: Deniz’s bakery became a place where heaven touches earth, showing that God can use any space as a meeting place with Him.
2. Love is the most powerful tool for transformation: Deniz’s testimony highlights how her acts of love, through her baking and interactions, opened doors for people to experience the love of Christ.
3. The Ecclesia is not just a Sunday gathering: Deniz’s story challenges the traditional view of the church, showing that the body of Christ can gather and worship in everyday spaces like a bakery.
4. God answers specific prayers: Deniz’s journey shows how God spoke to her through people, events, and even customers, answering her prayers and guiding her in both spiritual and practical matters.
5. Boldness in faith leads to impact: Deniz stepped out in faith to make Jesus known in her community, transforming not only her life but also the lives of those she encountered.

Pull Quotes:

1. "Why limit Jesus to a church building? He’s everywhere - He’s in me, and He’s in my bakery." - Deniz Koprulu
2. "I’m just a simple baker, but God is using my little bakery to impact my whole neighborhood." - Deniz Koprulu
3. "Heaven is not just for church on Sundays; it’s meant to show up in our everyday lives and spaces." - Bryan Elliott

Chapter Markers:

• 00:00 - Introduction: Meeting Deniz Koprulu and her story
• 02:07 - Deniz’s background: From Turkey to Toronto’s bakery scene
• 07:27 - Discovering the presence of God in the bakery
• 12:33 - The turning point: Deniz’s first encounter with Jesus through prayer
• 16:47 - Surrendering to Jesus: Deniz’s journey to faith
• 22:21 - The bakery as an Ecclesia: A place of ministry and community transformation
• 26:57 - Deniz’s dream of "The Table" and creating spaces of testimony
• 31:59 - Deniz’s message to business owners: Bringing heaven into everyday spaces

Podcast Summary:

Imagine living in a kingdom unlike any you’ve ever known - a kingdom ruled by a benevolent King who offers unconditional love, endless provision, and perfect peace.

In this episode of As In Heaven, Bryan Elliott and host Matt Davis explore the reality of God's kingdom and how it is meant to be experienced here on earth, not just in the afterlife. They dive into the life-changing implications of embracing Jesus as King and the transformational power of living under His authority.

The problem we are tackling in this episode: Why do so many people stop at salvation and fail to fully experience the kingdom of God? And, how do we as believers live out this kingdom reality daily?

Key Takeaways:

1. The kingdom of God is not just a future reality, but something to be experienced on earth now.
2. The gospel of the kingdom offers a deeper, fuller experience beyond just the gospel of salvation.
3. Living in the kingdom means submitting to Jesus as King, which brings transformation and a new way of life.
4. Suffering and trials are inevitable, but the kingdom provides peace, provision, and a heavenly reality amidst them.
5. Our mission as citizens of the kingdom is to manifest the reign of God in our daily lives, sharing the good news with others.

Pull Quotes:

• "The gospel of salvation is just the door, but there's an entire new world, a heavenly reality we are meant to experience here on earth."
• "Without the King, there’s no kingdom. By making Him King, we enter under His rulership, His peace, and His provision."
• "We’re not waiting to escape earth to go to heaven. The reign of God is meant to come to earth through His citizens."

Chapter Markers:

• 00:00 – Welcome to the Kingdom: Matt Davis introduces the episode with a vivid depiction of God's kingdom and invites listeners to imagine a reality governed by love, peace, and abundance.
• 02:38 – Bryan Elliott on the Gospel of the Kingdom: Bryan shares how the gospel of the kingdom changed his life and the importance of understanding the kingdom beyond just salvation.
• 03:46 – Setting the Table: Matt Davis compares this journey to a feast, inviting listeners to sit at the table and savor the fullness of the kingdom reality.
• 04:47 – Suffering and Submission in the Kingdom: Bryan and Matt discuss the inevitable trials of life and how submission to the King brings peace and provision even in hardship.
• 06:52 – Invitation to the Feast: The episode closes with an invitation to continue exploring the feast of God's kingdom in future episodes.

Podcast Summary

Imagine carrying around a heavy stone in your pocket, day after day. Each step is weighed down by its burden, a constant reminder of the hurt or betrayal that lingers in your heart. Now, imagine finally letting that stone go, but realizing it was never about the weight - it was about the healing you were missing.

In today’s episode, we jump into the power of forgiveness and mercy in the Kingdom of God, the very keys to unlocking freedom and healing in our lives and the lives of others. Forgiveness, while difficult, is not just a suggestion from the Bible; it is a command that transforms us into conduits for God’s grace.

We wrestle with the challenge of forgiveness, especially when the pain is deep, such as the trauma of murder, abuse, or betrayal. How do we forgive those who don’t ask for it? How do we release ourselves from the bondage of unforgiveness and live in the freedom that God’s kingdom offers?

1. Forgiveness is not a suggestion, but a biblical command - it's essential for living as conduits of God's grace.
2. Forgiveness and trust are separate - forgiveness releases someone from judgment, but trust must be rebuilt over time.
3. The act of forgiving doesn't depend on the other person's repentance - Jesus and Stephen modeled forgiveness even for those who did not repent.
4. Forgiveness invites healing - it brings freedom to both the forgiver and the forgiven, allowing God’s redemption to flow.
5. Mercy and judgment - while we are called to show mercy, judgment belongs to God alone, and our role is to model His grace on earth.

1. "Forgiveness isn’t just letting someone off the hook; it’s canceling their debt, releasing them from our judgment."
2. "As we forgive others, we invite the healing and freedom that come with God's redemptive power into our own lives."
3. "There is no loss in the kingdom; God’s grace uses even our greatest hurts for our good and His glory."

• 00:00 - Introduction: Forgiveness as a Kingdom Principle
• 03:23 - What Forgiveness Is and Isn’t: The Difference Between Forgiveness and Trust
• 05:19 - The Weight of Forgiveness: Personal Stories of Forgiving the Unforgivable
• 10:50 - Practical Steps to Forgive: Specific Processes for Releasing Hurt
• 19:11 - The Kingdom's Role in Forgiveness: Spiritual and Physical Changes Through Forgiveness
• 25:12 - Forgiving Without Repentance: How Jesus Modeled Forgiving Unrepentant People
• 30:00 - Mercy and Forgiveness: Understanding How Mercy and Forgiveness Work Together
• 34:09 - Judgment Belongs to God: Our Role in Mercy and Judgment as Believers
• 45:46 - Receiving Forgiveness: The Misconception of “Forgiving Yourself” and Accepting God’s Grace
• 49:54 - Conclusion: Living as Conduits of God’s Grace Through Forgiveness and Mercy