In this message, I shared what the Lord placed on my heart for our church: three essential agreements that every believer needs in order to live a transformed life. We live in a fast-paced world where spiritual life can easily turn into a checklist, but God is calling us back to the foundations, agreement with the Word, agreement with the Spirit, and agreement with the Body of Christ. These three agreements have shaped my own walk with God, and they continue to anchor me today.
I began by talking about agreement with the Word of God, because it is the Word that renews our minds. Romans 12:2 reminds us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. I shared how, as a teenager, receiving a Message Bible ignited something in me. The Word came alive, reshaped my identity, and eventually led me to start a Christian club on my high school campus. God used Scripture to break old habits, heal insecurity, and redirect my purpose. When I say the Word brings renewal, I’m speaking from experience, renewal changes patterns, thinking, and eventually lifestyle.
The second agreement I taught on is agreement with the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is the One who empowers obedience. We can know Scripture well and still struggle if we aren’t yielding to the Spirit’s leading. I’ve learned firsthand that it is not my strength that frees me from old behaviors or emotional patterns, it’s the Spirit’s power. When we refuse His nudging or quench His leading, our hearts grow cold, and we start justifying the things God wants to heal. But when we walk with the Spirit, denying ourselves daily, He redirects us, softens our hearts, and gives us the strength to live out what the Word teaches.
Finally, I taught about agreement with the Body of Christ, because transformation also requires community. Scripture calls us to sharpen one another, restore one another, and encourage one another. Correction can be uncomfortable, just like iron sharpening iron, but it is necessary for growth. Not everyone has earned the right to correct us, but those who love us and want to see us whole are part of God’s design for accountability. When we walk in unity, show humility, and refuse to slander or fight with each other, we shine as lights in a dark and chaotic world. Our battles are not against flesh and blood, so our posture must always be prayer, compassion, and restoration.
I closed by sharing my heart for the next generation. As a youth pastor, I know these kids face spiritual battles we often don’t see. My commitment is to fight for them in prayer, to walk alongside them, and to help them discover their identity and purpose in Christ. God is moving even, when we don’t see it, and He calls us, His church, to stand in agreement with His Word, His Spirit, and His Body so that His perfect and pleasing will can be revealed in our lives and in our house.