calendar_today January 26, 2026

The World

person CJ Ward

view_list Called: to Serve ,

The world is full of need—but not all of us notice it.

In The World, Pastor CJ Ward teaches from Luke 5 to show how easily we can grow blind to the brokenness around us. Pain, isolation, addiction, and spiritual lostness become so normal that we stop seeing them as needs at all. Yet in this familiar story of friends lowering a paralyzed man through a roof, we see what happens when ordinary people refuse to look away.

These men didn’t have a strategy. They didn’t have a plan. They simply knew someone who needed Jesus—and they were willing to do whatever it took to get him there.

Jesus responds not to the faith of the paralyzed man, but to the faith of his friends. Their belief, action, and willingness to step into the mess changed someone else’s life.

When we truly see Jesus—not as a good teacher, but as the One who changes everything—we begin to see the world differently. Needs become invitations. Faith becomes active. And serving becomes the natural response to a Savior who is already at work.

Big Idea

When we see Jesus clearly, we begin to notice the needs of the world—and our faith becomes the means God uses to change lives.

Why This Matters

When the needs of the world feel overwhelming, it’s tempting to believe nothing will change—or that God only works through special people. But Scripture shows that ordinary faith, exercised with courage, can transform lives. When we see Jesus clearly, we stop waiting for someone else to act and begin stepping into the work God has placed in front of us.

Key Scripture Reference

Luke 5:17–26 — The healing of the paralyzed man reveals the power of intercessory faith and courageous action.
Genesis 2:18 — God’s design for humanity includes community and shared responsibility.
John 14:6 — Jesus is not merely a teacher, but the way, the truth, and the life.
1 Corinthians 11:23–26 — Communion as a physical reminder of who Jesus is and what He has done.

Next Step

Ask God to help you see both Jesus and the needs around you more clearly this week. Then take one small step of faith—trusting that God can use it to change someone’s life.