A Reminder Of Home

In Doug Pratt's sermon, "A Reminder of Home," he compares the experiences of American expatriates living abroad to the spiritual journey of Christians. He references a Fortune magazine article where expatriates shared the positives of living in new cultures and the challenges of being away from home, often expressing a deep longing for their homeland. 

Pastor Pratt connects this to Colossians 3:1-3, where Paul describes Christians as spiritual expatriates whose true home is with Christ in heaven. He emphasizes that becoming a Christian involves a transformative, eternal change that affects how believers should think and act in this world. Rather than just imagining heaven, Christians are called to embody Christ's values daily. 

To help Christians feel connected to their spiritual home, Pratt draws parallels with how expatriates stay connected: through reading familiar material (the Bible), communicating with loved ones (prayer), gathering with others from their homeland (fellowship), and enjoying familiar food (Holy Communion). These practices serve as reminders of their identity in Christ and their ultimate home in heaven.