Podcast Summary: Church of the Highlands – "Jesus Restores"

Date: September 28, 2025
Podcast: Church of the Highlands – Sunday Messages – Audio
Episode Theme: Jesus Restores
Speaker: Dino Rizzo

Overview

In this heartfelt and dynamic Sunday message, Pastor Dino Rizzo explores the transformative theme: "Jesus Restores." As part of the "Goodness of God" series, Dino encourages the congregation to personally reflect on their need for restoration and underlines how Jesus brings healing, renewal, and resurrection to even the most desperate and broken situations. Drawing from both Old and New Testament scripture, including Joel 2 and Mark 5, Dino illustrates how nothing is ever too far gone for God’s restorative power.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Pathways and Community

• Dino opens by emphasizing the importance of connection and next steps for newcomers at Church of the Highlands, citing Growth Track and church involvement as key.

  "I know I wouldn’t be here today when I showed up in church and I was not raised in church, that the church gave me a pathway, gave me some steps." (01:20)

• Expresses deep love and welcome to all, including shoutouts to satellite campuses, online viewers, and those in correctional facilities.

2. Legacy of Generosity and Outreach

• Celebrates the church’s legacy season approaching (October–December), emphasizing outreach, new churches, food distribution, and Bible giveaways globally.
• Links practical church actions to the overarching theme of God's goodness.

3. Introducing the Theme: Jesus Restores

• Dino asks everyone to consider, “Where do I need to be restored in my life?”
• Sets the tone for a personal, introspective message, culminating in a time of prayer for restoration.

4. Personal Story of Restoration

• Dino shares from his marriage with his wife, Delyn, and how God provided them with a defining word from Joel during a challenging season.

  "Not only spoke and I want you to hear this. Not only spoke to our now, but it spoke to our next." (08:57)

5. Biblical Foundation: Joel 2

• Reads from Joel 2:23–27, wherein God promises to restore what was lost to Israel.

  "So I will restore the years the swarming locust has eaten... My people will never be put to shame." (11:00)

• Emphasizes that God’s restoration isn’t just for a return to the past, but for something even better.

6. Restoration in Mark 5: Three Illustrative Stories

Dino walks through Mark 5, highlighting three distinct cases of restoration:

a. The Demon-Possessed Man

• Jesus restores his mind, relationships, and community, and puts him on mission.
• Connects to the church’s mission to not leave anyone in isolation.

b. The Woman with the Issue of Blood

• Jesus not only heals her physically but restores her dignity and social status.
• Notable quote:

  "Everyone’s labeled you. But I call you daughter." (21:19)

• Restoration includes community, spiritual wholeness, and newfound family.

c. Jairus’ Daughter

• Despite death pronouncements, Jesus restores her to life, showing it's never too late.
• Memorable storytelling comparison: Dino likens this scenario to a comeback victory in sports:

  "There is time on the clock. Shoot your shot. There’s time on the clock. Never too far gone, not in the name of Jesus." (27:58)

7. Principles of Restoration: Keys to Embracing the Goodness of God

a. Get Some Things Out

• Remove doubt, timelines, and voices of mourning and mocking.

  “See, before God raises your daughter, sometimes he has to evict your doubters.” (33:25)

b. Let the Lord In

• Be proactive about inviting Jesus into every area needing restoration—mind, marriage, health, or emotions.

c. Get Up and Rise

• Encourages active response:

  "Get up little girl. Arise. He reaches through the veil... and gives her back to her parents. Full life, full health, new walk, new way, new work, new words. That’s restoration." (34:55)

8. Jesus Restores Every Area

Dino lists areas Jesus can restore:

• Health, community, purity, wholeness, finances, freedom, joy, hope, leadership, forgiveness, faith, sound mind, righteousness, family, humility, life

  "Why not you? Why not now? Why not? Jesus restores us to health..." (35:44 onwards)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Restoration Power:

  "Nothing is too far gone for God Almighty, the demonized, the diseased, the dead. He restores broken minds, broken bodies, and broken life." (26:37)

• On Perseverance and Faith:

  "Sometimes when we’re waiting, it doesn’t mean God is neglecting us. Sometimes that’s where our faith is being developed." (34:10)

• On Personal Experience:

  "That verse, verse 25 [Joel 2:25], has given us strength so often as a family, and it’s given me personal strength in my life." (14:12)

• On Church Identity:

  "There’s always a new beginning. There’s always a fresh start. The heart of God." (28:30)

• On Letting Go of Negativity:

  "Before God raises your daughter, sometimes he has to evict your doubters." (33:25)

Key Timestamps

• [00:00-04:30] – Welcoming congregation, locations, and emphasizing Growth Track and community.
• [04:30-09:30] – Generosity season, global church impact, introduction to restoration theme.
• [09:30-15:30] – Personal testimony about God’s word in marriage; Joel 2 scripture read.
• [16:00-21:30] – Joel 2 expanded, call for personal reflection and restoration.
• [21:30-28:30] – Mark 5: restoration stories of the demon-possessed man and woman with issue of blood.
• [28:30-33:30] – Restoration of Jairus’ daughter; sports comeback analogy; nothing is too far gone.
• [33:30-36:29] – Principles for restoration: evicting doubt, inviting Jesus in, rising up; practical application.
• [36:30-end] – Prayer response: inviting restoration in specific areas, salvation message.

Final Prayer and Call to Response

The episode closes with a powerful moment of prayer, inviting hands raised for personal restoration and a special prayer for salvation and new beginnings in Jesus:

"Jesus, be my Lord. I want to be restored to you... Be my everything in Jesus name. Amen." (37:12)

Summary Takeaways

• Restoration is at the heart of God’s goodness—no one, no situation is beyond hope.
• True restoration may require letting go (doubt, negativity), letting Jesus in, and rising to new life.
• Practical, scriptural steps and real-life testimonies make this message both relatable and actionable for every listener.
• The message is a call to personal reflection—and a loving challenge not to settle for anything less than the full, abundant restoration Jesus offers.

For listeners seeking hope, healing, or a fresh start, this episode is a deeply encouraging and faith-building resource, rooted in scripture, practical wisdom, and the vibrant life of the church community.