Goal: On a scale of 1-10, how much do you love God? Help dads evaluate how they love God with their heart, surface competing loyalties, and leave with one concrete step + an accountability partner. This handout includes: Scripture text used in the sermon, discussion questions with sample answers, a journaling prompt, and links (with QR codes) for follow-up reading on BeTheDads.com.
Opening & welcome — 5 min
Leader: Welcome, remind confidentiality, brief purpose, open in prayer.
All your heart Icebreaker — 10 min
Prompt: On a scale of 1–10, how would you rate your ‘love for God’ this week? Say your number and one thing that influenced it. (If large group, do pairs then 2–3 share.)
Scripture reading about loving with All your heart
Mark 12:29-31
‘Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” ‘
Luke 7:36-50
‘One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”’
Short teaching recap about All your heart — 8–10 min
Leader recap (2–3 min): Focus on ‘heart’ (motives & desires). Mark 12 commands whole-hearted love; Luke 7 contrasts a forgiven woman’s extravagant love and a religious man’s cold duty.
Guided Bible study — 10 min
Leader cues: Ask: What does ‘heart’ mean in Mark 12? (Inner desires, affections, motives.) In Luke 7, how did forgiveness change the woman’s response? (She loved because she was forgiven.) Keep this interactive.
Small group All your heart discussion — 25–30 min
Spend ~6–8 minutes per question. Facilitator: draw out specifics and encourage practical steps. Below are the discussion questions and sample answers you can use to get started or to share when time is low.
1. On a scale of 1–10, how would you rate your ‘love for God’ this week? (Not how much God loves you — your response to Him.)
Sample answer: ‘I’d rate myself a 6. I value God a lot but my actual time with Him is inconsistent—I get up early some days to read, other days work and kids take over. I feel conviction and want more regular rhythms.’
2. What competes for your worship during the week (work, phone, approval, comfort, fear, control, hobbies)?
Name 1–2 main competitors.
Sample answer: ‘Work and approval. My job defines success to me; I check email at night and miss times that could be used for prayer or family devotions. I also look for approval on social media which steals my heart.’
3. How does understanding forgiveness (how much we’ve been forgiven) change your love for God?
Sample answer: ‘Understanding how forgiven I am humbles me and fuels gratitude. When I remember what Jesus paid, my love shifts from duty to affection—I want to respond, not just obey.’
4. What desire or motive in your life needs to be re-aligned with God’s heart? Be specific.
Sample answer: ‘My desire for recognition—whether at work or home—needs re-aligning. I want my identity rooted in being God’s child and a loving father rather than in achievements.’
5. What is one practical step you will take this week to move your number up? (time, money, attention; make it measurable.)
Sample answer: ‘I’ll shut off screens at 9 pm and spend 20 minutes journaling and praying before bed for five nights. I’ll set a reminder and tell my accountability partner.’
6. What obstacles might keep you from following through, and how will you remove or reduce them?
Sample answer: ‘Obstacle: late work calls and fatigue. Plan: communicate to my team to avoid non-urgent after-hours requests on two chosen nights; go to bed earlier; ask my spouse for support in creating the space.’
Personal reflection & journaling on All your heart — 8–10 min
Journaling prompt (write for 5–8 minutes): Where is my heart divided? Name one place I prioritize something else over God. Write one specific action to stop and one to start. End with a simple prayer asking God for help.
Write your one action step (fill in):
I will stop: ____________________________________
I will begin: ____________________________________
Accountability pairing & commitment — 7–8 min
Pair up. Each man reads his one-step commitment aloud and agrees on a specific midweek check-in method & time (e.g., text Friday evening). Use the templates below if helpful.
Accountability message templates:
- Accountability check (sample): ‘Hey — did you do your 20-minute prayer time last night? How did it go?’
- Midweek encouragement (sample): ‘Remember your one-step: screens off at 9 pm. You’ve got this. Pray for me too.’
Prayer time & close — 8–10 min
Options: Leader-led prayer asking God to align hearts; open-floor prayer (30 sec each); or read a Psalm (e.g., Psalm 51) and close with a blessing.
Follow-up & Further All your heart reading (typeable URLs + QR codes)
Follow-up: After the group, exchange contact details with your accountability partner and set a specific check-in time (text/voice). Leader will share this handout and the links in the group chat. On the next meeting we’ll spend 10 minutes sharing wins and struggles.
