Goal: Help dads understand what it means to love God with all their strength (me’od) — not by adding more to their lists, but by transforming everything they already do into acts of worship, and walk away with one practical step toward using their resources, energy, and influence for God’s Kingdom purpose.
Video Reference: All In — Love God With All Your Strength (Pastor Steve, Eastridge Church) — https://www.youtube.com/live/zdizZ2wxyrU?si=ixTdp6n9t-RVoeCT
Scripture Focus (NIV)
- Mark 12:30 — Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (me’od/muchness).
- John 6:1-13 — The boy with five loaves and two fish feeds 5,000+ people through Jesus’ multiplication miracle.
- Proverbs 3:9-10 — Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.
- Matthew 25:21 — Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.
The Essence of BeTheDads
When Jesus calls us to love God with all our strength, He’s not asking us to add one more thing to our already overwhelming to-do list. He’s inviting us to transform everything we already do — our work, our parenting, our marriages, our resources, our time, our influence — into acts of worship.
At BeTheDads, we believe that loving God with our “me’od” (Hebrew for “muchness” — every resource, energy, talent, opportunity, and capacity) means taking what’s already in our hands and surrendering it to Jesus. It’s not about doing more; it’s about doing everything we already do FOR HIM.
The sermon title says it all: “It’s Not On The List — It IS The List.”
💪 1️⃣ It’s Not On The List — Strength Is How You Do Everything
Question: What’s the difference between adding “love God” to your to-do list versus making your entire list an act of loving God?
Sample Answer: When the pastor stayed on top of housework while his wife was away, he wasn’t doing it as another chore — he was expressing love for his wife through every dish washed, every room cleaned, every bed made. Similarly, loving God with our strength isn’t another task; it’s the motivation behind everything we do. When we coach our kids’ teams, work at our jobs, serve our wives, or use our resources — we do it all as worship to God.
Dad Application: Think about your weekly calendar. Instead of asking “Where can I fit God in?” ask “How can I love God through everything already on my schedule?”
Related Links:
- Put God First to Be the Dads He Created You to Be
(https://bethedads.com/2024/05/put-god-first-to-be-the-dads-he-created-you-to-be/) - Who God created you to be: Take Time to grab a hold of it!
(https://bethedads.com/2025/02/take-time-to-grab-a-hold-of-who-god-created-you-to-be/) - Sign from Above: Rain as God’s Divine Provision and Promise
(https://bethedads.com/2024/08/sign-from-above-rain-as-gods-divine-provision-and-promise/)
🍞 2️⃣ What’s In Your Hand? — The Material for a Miracle
Question: Like the boy with five loaves and two fish, what “me’od” (resources, talents, time, influence) do you have in your hand that feels insufficient or insignificant — but could become the material for a miracle when given to Jesus?
Sample Answer: The boy’s lunch seemed insignificant compared to feeding 5,000+ people. The disciples even said, “What good is that?” But when placed in Jesus’ hands, it fed thousands with 12 baskets of leftovers. We often look at our limited time, our modest income, our simple talents and think, “This isn’t enough to make a difference.” But God doesn’t need our adequacy — He needs our availability. When we give what we have to Jesus, He multiplies it beyond what we could imagine.
Dad Application: Maybe you think you don’t have enough time to disciple your kids, enough money to be generous, enough energy to serve. What if you stopped comparing yourself to others and simply gave Jesus what you DO have? Your 15 minutes of morning devotion time with your kids. Your $20 offering. Your hour of volunteering. Watch God multiply it.
Related Links:
- 30-Day Learning Plan for Becoming the Father God Created, Called, and Purposed You to Be
(https://bethedads.com/30-day-learning-plan-for-becoming-the-father-god-created-called-and-purposed-you-to-be/) - Strangers – Making a difference one at a time
(https://bethedads.com/2024/08/strangers-making-a-difference-one-at-a-time/) - Grow in Community! Don’t do life alone! Join one now!
(https://bethedads.com/2025/01/grow-in-community-dont-do-life-alone-join-one-now/)
🎁 3️⃣ The Scarcity Lie vs. The Abundance Truth
Question: The enemy whispers that what you give to God is something you’ll lose forever. But Jesus showed that when we give Him our “me’od,” He takes care of our needs AND multiplies blessing. Where do you struggle with a scarcity mindset versus trusting God’s abundance?
Sample Answer: The boy gave up his lunch, but guess what? He got to eat as much as he wanted. Jesus didn’t leave him hungry. When we’re faithful with our time, resources, and energy for God’s Kingdom, He doesn’t leave us lacking. The enemy says, “If you tithe, you won’t have enough.” “If you spend time in prayer, you’ll fall behind at work.” “If you prioritize your family, you’ll miss career opportunities.” But God says, “Test me and see — when you honor me with your firstfruits, I will pour out blessing you cannot contain.”
Dad Application: What area are you holding back from God because of fear? Your finances? Your time? Your career ambitions? What would it look like to trust that God will provide for your needs when you’re faithful to give Him your first and best?
Related Links:
- But God… (God’s Provision and Faithfulness)
(https://bethedads.com/2025/03/but-god/) - Sign from Above: Rain as God’s Divine Provision and Promise
(https://bethedads.com/2024/08/sign-from-above-rain-as-gods-divine-provision-and-promise/) - Put God First to Be the Dads He Created You to Be
(https://bethedads.com/2024/05/put-god-first-to-be-the-dads-he-created-you-to-be/)
🗑️ 4️⃣ Nothing Is Wasted — God Uses Everything You Give Him
Question: Jesus told the disciples to gather the leftovers “so nothing is wasted.” What does this teach us about how God values what we surrender to Him?
Sample Answer: When you give your pain to God, it’s not wasted — He uses it to comfort others. When you give your mistakes to God, they’re not wasted — He redeems them for His glory. When you give your time, talent, and treasure to God, none of it is wasted — He multiplies it for Kingdom impact. The 12 baskets of leftovers (one for each doubting disciple) were God’s way of saying, “See? When you trust me, there’s always more than enough.”
Dad Application: As dads, we often feel like our sacrifices go unnoticed. Late nights comforting sick kids. Paychecks that disappear into bills and groceries. Time spent coaching, teaching, praying. None of it is wasted when done for God’s glory. Your faithfulness today is building a legacy that will overflow into future generations.
Related Links:
- But God… (Nothing is Wasted When Given to God)
(https://bethedads.com/2025/03/but-god/) - Who God created you to be: Take Time to grab a hold of it!
(https://bethedads.com/2025/02/take-time-to-grab-a-hold-of-who-god-created-you-to-be/) - 30-Day Learning Plan for Becoming the Father God Created, Called, and Purposed You to Be
(https://bethedads.com/30-day-learning-plan-for-becoming-the-father-god-created-called-and-purposed-you-to-be/)
Application & Challenge
💪 Me’od Challenge:
This week, don’t try to add “love God” to your to-do list. Instead, take your existing list and ask God: “How can I love You with THIS?”
One Truth: My strength, resources, time, and talents are not my own — they’re material for God’s miracles.
One Action: Identify one specific area of your “me’od” (time/money/talent/energy/influence) and intentionally surrender it to God this week. Examples:
- Set aside the first 15 minutes of your day for God before checking your phone
- Give generously (even sacrificially) to someone in need or to your church
- Use your professional skills to serve someone without expecting payment
- Spend focused, distraction-free time with your kids doing what THEY want to do
- Encourage another dad who’s struggling
One Person: Share with another dad what specific “me’od” you’re surrendering to God this week, and ask him to check in with you to see how God multiplied it.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for reminding us that loving You with all our strength isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing everything we already do FOR YOU. Help us as dads to see our resources, our time, our talents, and our influence as gifts from You, meant to be given back to You.
Lord, we confess the times we’ve believed the lie that what we have isn’t enough. We’ve doubted that You could use us. But today, like the boy with the loaves and fish, we place what’s in our hands into Yours.
Multiply our faithfulness. Use our sacrifices. Redeem our pain. And help us trust that when we give You our best, You will always provide more than enough.
Make us the dads You created us to be — dads who worship You with every ounce of our me’od, every day, in every way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Key Takeaway Quote from the Sermon:
“Loving God with all of your strength is not another thing you need to add to the list. The idea of loving God with all of your strength is taking the list, all of the things that you do, and saying God, how can I love you with everything that’s on the agenda? How can I worship you with everything that’s on my calendar?”
