BeTheDads: Lover of God — at your essence
Goal: Help dads understand what it means to love God with their whole being — identity, purpose, and power — and walk away with one step to align their life with God’s purpose. Ensuring that loving God is your essence.
(See also https://bethedads.com/2022/11/all-in-loving-god-with-all-your-heart/ for the first step in this series)
Scripture Focus (NIV):
📖 Mark 12:28–31 (NIV)
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
📖 Romans 8:14–16 (NIV)
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
📖 Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
📖 Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Video Reference: The Lie of Lacroix – Eastridge Church Sermon by Pastor Josh
https://www.youtube.com/live/WxCSSAsHJ9w?si=dp_UwUv3SK0_0W3K&t=2518
The Essence of BeTheDads
When Jesus commands us to love God with ‘all our soul,’ He’s calling us to love Him from our essence — the core of who we are. At BeTheDads, we believe that being a father is about stepping into the identity God has already given you. Your essence is not your résumé or your mistakes — it’s the life God breathed into you. In this session, we’ll explore what it means to live ‘All In’ — to love God from our essence, letting Him shape our identity, lead our purpose, and empower us by His Spirit.
Adapted from Essence — Who Are You and What Are You Really Made Of? by Farmer Phil.
Discussion & Reflection
Identity — Essence Defined
Question: What parts of your essence have been shaped more by culture than by Christ?
Sample Answer: Many of us let work, success, or public image define us. But true identity comes from belonging to Christ (Romans 8:16).
(Explore more in https://bethedads.com/2022/10/identity-who-are-you from BeTheDads)
Group Prompt: How can dads encourage one another to live from their God-given essence instead of performance or approval?
Purpose — Essence Expressed
Question: How can your essence as a dad mirror God’s heart in how you lead and love?
Sample Answer: God calls dads to model His love, patience, and forgiveness in their homes. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we were created for good works in partnership with Him.
Group Prompt: Share one way your daily work or parenting could become an act of worship this week.
(For further reflection, see https://bethedads.com/2022/09/purpose-living-out-gods-call/)
Power — Essence Empowered
Question: Where do you need the Holy Spirit to renew your essence so you can live from it daily?
Sample Answer: We can’t do it on our own. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and endurance to live out our essence authentically (John 14:26).
(Read more in https://bethedads.com/2022/08/empowered-by-the-spirit/)
Group Prompt: How can you make space for the Spirit’s presence in your daily routine?
Application & Challenge
Essence Challenge: This week, ask yourself daily, ‘Am I living from my essence — the man God designed — or from my exhaustion, fear, or pride?’
One Truth
My essence is defined by Christ, not my performance.
One Action
Choose one area (home, work, marriage) to live from your God-centered essence this week
One Person
Share with one other dad what part of your essence you’re asking God to strengthen.
(Stay encouraged daily with Be The Dads Devotionals on BeTheDads.com)
Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for defining our essence and calling us to love You with our whole soul. Help us as dads to lead our families from that place of identity and purpose. Empower us with Your Spirit to live all in for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
