Witnessing Restoration - Witnessing by the Book (Focus 3 of 8)

Have you ever seen something old, broken, or in disrepair be given new life? 

Those who see what Jesus does attest to the way he is bringing things from the broken ways that they have been to something better - and they bring out the desire for something better that naturally exists in all people.

Let's talk about what it takes to restore something.
Listen to this audio when you’re ready to begin today’s Spotlight.

See what this Spotlight—and series— is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 3" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.

Hopefully that makes enough sense to get you started. Pray these words together as you do:

Lord,
We see the things around us
that are broken, failing, and crippled.
Help us believe that you are interested
in restoration, in taking things
back to the good way
you designed them to be.
Amen.

Open a Bible to Acts 3 as you listen and meditate on the chapter using the audio below.

Most of what happens in Acts 4-5 flows from the healing of the crippled man in Acts 3. Let's divide and conquer those chapters. 

Step 1: Form 3 Groups

• Group 1: Read Acts 4:1-22

• Group 2: Read Acts 4:23-5:16
• Group 3: Read Acts 5:17-42

Take about 10–12 minutes in your group to read and discuss your assigned chapter.

Step 2: Look for Three Key Things
As you read your chapter, look for evidence of:

1. God’s Restoration
   

   Where do you see people being restored, be it emotionally, physically, spiritually, relationally, or communally?

   
   
2. Resistance to Restoration
   

   Who or what pushes back against what God is doing?
   Why might they resist restoration?

   
   
3. The Response of Jesus’ People
   

   What do Jesus’ followers do in the face of that resistance?
   What do you notice about their tone, their courage, or their hope?

   
   

Step 3: Report Back
After 10–12 minutes, come back together.

Each group will have 2 minutes to share:

• A short example of restoration they saw in their chapter
• A moment of resistance and how Jesus’ people responded

Tip: You don’t need to explain everything—just share what stood out. Often the clearest witness is simply noticing and naming what matters.

Step 4: Discuss
Discuss 1 or 2 of these questions now that you've taken in these chapters:

• What is it about seeing restoration happen that makes people want to take part in it? 
• Where do pessimism, optimism, and realism fit into this restoration discussion? 
• Do you think it’s possible to believe in restoration without seeing it directly first?

Let's pray a bold prayer for local healing, like the believers did in Acts 5.

Step 1: Read the Original Prayer
Ask someone to read Acts 4:24–30 aloud to the group.
As they read, listen for the tone of the early believers. What do you notice? 

Step 2: Choose a Local Cause
As a group, pick one local effort that is working to restore something broken in your city or neighborhood. (Examples: mental health programs, housing efforts, schools, shelters, or community centers.)

Step 3: Assign Prayer Voices
Pick five volunteers, one for each part of the prayer as laid out below. Depending on how many people you have, partner someone with each.

Step 4: Compose 
Take 2–3 minutes together to reflect and prepare what they will say.
(It can be spontaneous or written.)

Here’s the framework and who says what:

1. The Creator Voice: “Sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and the earth…”
   Volunteer 1 prays:
   → Describe God’s greatness, creativity, and presence in the world today.
2. The Brokenness Voice: “Why do the nations rage…?”
   Volunteer 2 prays:
   → Name the injustice, pain, or opposition facing the cause or community.
3. The Jesus Voice: “They conspired against your holy servant Jesus…”
   Volunteer 3 prays:
   → Acknowledge that Jesus understands suffering and still stands with the hurting.
4. The Boldness Voice: “Now, Lord, consider their threats…”
   Volunteer 4 prays:
   → Ask God to give boldness, clarity, and love to those involved—including yourselves.
5. The Healing Voice: “Stretch out your hand to heal…”
   Volunteer 5 prays:
   → Ask for visible, real restoration through Jesus' ongoing work.

Step 5: Pray the Prayer
Once the volunteers are ready, share the prayer.

After the final voice, close together by saying:

“Amen. Lord, stretch out your hand to heal.”

Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)

Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.

Read together the words of Psalm 80 as a closing prayer.

1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.
 
3 Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

4 How long, Lord God Almighty,
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6 You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.
 
7 Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

8 You transplanted a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it,
and it took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River.  
12 Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
13 Boars from the forest ravage it,
and insects from the fields feed on it.
 
14 Return to us, God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!

Watch over this vine,
15the root your right hand has planted,
the son you have raised up for yourself.
16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.
17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.
 
19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

Sing this song as you close out this Spotlight.

Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.