In Genesis 46, Jacob and his family begin their pilgrimage into Egypt. There they’ll remain strangers and aliens outside the land of promise for over 400 years. As they begin this journey, we find God strengthening Jacob in three main ways: 1) God revives Jacob’s worship, 2) God reassures Jacob of covenant promises, and 3) God restores Jacob’s relationship with Joseph.

In Genesis 45, Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. By God’s grace peace is restored to them and Joseph sends them back to retrieve their father. There are two big ideas this story: 1) God reconciles the sons of Jacob and 2) God revives the soul of Jacob.

In Matthew 18.15-20, Mike Komatsu walks us through Jesus’ instructions on church discipline. Jesus teaches the church a four step process for restoring wayward members through loving discipline.

In Luke 15, we continue our series on reconciliation by looking at the last element of the reconciliation process: restoration. Jesus tells three parables: 1) the lost sheep, 2) the lost coin, and 3) the lost son. In these parables Jesus builds on the themes of restoration, rejoicing, and resentment. His main point is to teach us that anytime there is sin, confession, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration, we should rejoice and celebrate like our Father in Heaven.