Paul's vision in Ephesians is cosmic — Jesus filling all things, a new humanity growing up into his glory. But how does that massive vision land in a local church on a Sunday morning? Pastor Steven turns to the second of the fivefold gifts: the prophetic impulse. Prophets are the ones who walk up to the rest of us, tap us on the shoulder, and say, "Come look at it from this side." It's an impulse rooted in urgency, truth-telling, compassion, and imagination — the kind of gut-level response that rises when something is broken and someone needs to say so. And it doesn't end with the call-out. The prophet casts a new vision of what life could look like if we actually followed the way of Jesus.

Paul's letter to the Ephesians carries a dream so big it's cosmic — all things gathered up in Christ, the kindness of Jesus on display for ages to come. But Pastor Steven doesn't leave us staring at the sky. He brings us to the image of a victorious king riding through the streets, throwing out gifts — not candy at a parade, but gifts that transform the way you live. That's what Jesus does as he ascends: he looks at each of us and hands us something to carry. This week launches a new five-week series exploring the fivefold ministry gifts of the church — Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd, Teacher — and the unique part each of us plays in helping the church grow up into the fullness of who Jesus is.

In John's telling of the resurrection, every detail is a symbol. The tomb is fit for royalty. The setting is a garden — an echo of the very first place God walked with his people. And when Mary mistakes Jesus for the gardener, she's wrong — but she's also right.

Pastor Steven walks us through the rich imagery John layers into this moment, all building toward one repeated question: Why are you weeping? It's the question the angels ask Mary, and then Jesus asks her, too. But unlike when we ask it — searching for information, trying to help — Jesus asks it as someone who has already changed the answer. He's standing in the overlap between our broken present and God's good future, and he's pulling that future into now.

It's an invitation to see something that changes the meaning of our tears.