BeTheDads Small Group Session 25

We Need to Take Ground

Series: Battle Ready

Sermon: We Need to Take Ground

Scripture Focus: Ephesians 6:10–18

Preacher: Pastor Dalton

Date: August 9th

Watch the Sermon

Sermon reference: “We Need to Take Ground” — Battle Ready Series

Session Big Idea

God has not called dads to hide in a spiritual bunker and simply survive until Jesus returns. He has equipped us to stand firm and take ground. The enemy is real, his attacks are real, and temptation often works by getting us to question what God has said. But God gives us His armor, His Word as the sword of the Spirit, and the victory already accomplished through Jesus. Battle-ready dads learn to answer the enemy with “It is written” and then live from the victory Christ has already won.

Key Scriptures

Ephesians 6:10–18 (NLT)

“Put on all of God’s armor…”

Key takeaway: God equips us to stand firm rather than retreat into a bunker mentality.

John 10:10 (NLT)

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.”

Key takeaway: The enemy has a real agenda, so dads should not minimize spiritual warfare.

1 John 2:16 (NLT)

“the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”

Key takeaway: Temptation commonly appeals to appetite, attraction, and ego.

Genesis 3:1–6 (NLT)

“Did God really say…?”

Key takeaway: The enemy attacks by questioning and twisting what God has said.

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

“the word of God… is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword.”

Key takeaway: God’s Word is precise, penetrating, and able to expose lies.

Matthew 4:1–11 (NLT)

Jesus repeatedly answers temptation with Scripture.

Key takeaway: Jesus models the practical use of the sword of the Spirit: “It is written.”

John 19:30 (NLT)

“It is finished.”

Key takeaway: The ultimate victory over sin was accomplished by Jesus.

Revelation 19:16 (NLT)

“King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Key takeaway: Our confidence rests in Christ’s authority, not our own strength.

Icebreaker / Welcome (10 minutes)

1. What is something you have prepared for because you knew it was coming—but would have been completely unprepared for if it caught you by surprise?
2. When you hear the phrase “take ground,” what does it make you think of: defending, advancing, reclaiming, protecting, or something else?
3. (Bridge) Where do you most naturally fall as a dad: preparing for battle, avoiding conflict, or reacting once the battle is already underway?

Sermon Context

Session 25 closes the Battle Ready series by moving from defense to advance. Pastor Dalton begins with Ephesians 6 and the armor of God, emphasizing that Paul does not describe a passive bunker mentality. The command is to put on God’s armor, stand firm, and be prepared for the conflict that is already present.

The sermon identifies the enemy as real and describes his goal as destruction. His primary weapon is temptation, often working through the patterns Scripture describes as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and pride. Genesis 3 shows the enemy questioning God’s Word, while Matthew 4 shows Jesus responding to temptation with the exact opposite approach: He knows what God has said and answers, “It is written.”

Pastor Dalton then focuses on the sword of the Spirit. Hebrews 4:12 describes God’s Word as sharp and penetrating. The point is not simply to own a Bible or know Christian ideas. The Word must become available to us in the moment of temptation so that we can answer the lie with truth.

The sermon ends by emphasizing that Jesus has already won the ultimate victory. We therefore do not fight as men who are hoping victory might eventually come. We fight from the victory Christ has accomplished, taking ground in our minds, homes, relationships, and communities.

Key Points

1. The battle is real, and hiding is not the assignment.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10–18 (NLT)

Dad Application: Fatherhood puts us in real places where spiritual pressure shows up: our thoughts, marriages, reactions, habits, priorities, and relationships with our kids. The temptation is to retreat—to stay spiritually passive, avoid hard conversations, and simply hope things hold together. Paul gives a different picture. Put on God’s armor. Stand firm. Be ready. For dads, taking ground can mean refusing to let fear, passivity, resentment, pornography, anger, comparison, or discouragement become normal operating conditions in the home.

Key Takeaway: God did not equip you merely to survive the battle. He equipped you to stand and take ground.

2. The enemy often starts by getting you to question what God has said.

Scripture: Genesis 3:1–6 (NLT)

Dad Application: The enemy’s strategy in the garden was not initially a physical attack. It was a question: Did God really say? That same pattern can show up in fatherhood. Did God really mean forgiveness? Is obedience really worth it? Does God really care about this part of my life? Is this temptation really a big deal? When a dad stops knowing what God has said, the question becomes harder to answer. Knowing Scripture gives us a foundation from which to recognize the lie.

Key Takeaway: If the enemy can make you uncertain about truth, he can begin influencing your choices.

3. Temptation targets the flesh, the eyes, and the ego.

Scripture: 1 John 2:16 (NLT)

Dad Application: Temptation is often less dramatic than we imagine. It can look like satisfying a craving, chasing something attractive, or protecting our pride. A dad may know the right thing but still be pulled by what feels good, what looks appealing, or what makes him feel important. Recognizing the category helps us recognize the attack.

Key Takeaway: Know what kind of temptation is pulling on you so you can confront it honestly.

4. God’s Word is not decoration—it is a weapon.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17 (NLT)

Dad Application: Pastor Dalton describes the sword of the Spirit as precise and sharp. That means dads need more than vague familiarity with Christianity. We need truth we can actually reach for when the moment gets difficult. The Word helps expose the lie, reveal what is true, and give us a faithful response.

Key Takeaway: A sword left in its sheath cannot be used in the moment of battle.

5. Jesus shows us how to answer temptation: “It is written.”

Scripture: Matthew 4:1–11 (NLT)

Dad Application: Jesus does not debate Satan on Satan’s terms. He answers with what God has already said. Dads need the same reflex. When anger says “react,” when temptation says “just once,” when pride says “prove yourself,” or when fear says “you cannot do this,” we need a Scripture-based answer ready.

Key Takeaway: Build a collection of “It is written” responses before the battle comes.

6. We fight from Christ’s victory, not for Christ’s victory.

Scripture: John 19:30; Revelation 19:16 (NLT)

Dad Application: The call to take ground is not a call to become spiritual superheroes. Jesus is the victorious King. His finished work changes the posture from panic to confidence and from hiding to obedience. We can take faithful steps because the ultimate outcome does not depend on our strength.

Key Takeaway: Your confidence is not in how strong you are; it is in who Jesus is.

Discussion Questions (20–25 minutes)

Opening the Text

• Ephesians 6 tells believers to stand firm after putting on God’s armor. What does “standing firm” look like in a dad’s everyday life?
• Why do you think the enemy’s question in Genesis 3—“Did God really say?”—is such an effective strategy?
• In 1 John 2:16, how do the flesh, eyes, and pride show up differently in temptation? Which one tends to be most subtle?
• Hebrews 4:12 describes God’s Word as sharp and penetrating. What does that mean practically when you are facing a lie or temptation?
• In Matthew 4, why is Jesus’ repeated response—“It is written”—so significant? What does it teach us about how we should prepare?

Starting Thought: Standing firm may look less dramatic than we expect—choosing patience, telling the truth, resisting a shortcut, praying before reacting, or having the hard conversation.

Starting Thought: The enemy does not always begin by asking us to reject God; he can begin by making us uncertain about what God actually said.

Starting Thought: Think about immediate gratification, attraction/coveting, and the need to be right, admired, or in control.

Starting Thought: Scripture does more than encourage us. It exposes what is false and gives us a true standard to act on.

Starting Thought: Jesus had truth available in the moment because He knew the Word before the temptation arrived.

Dad Life Discussion

• Where do you currently feel like you are defending ground in your life as a dad—your marriage, your mind, your relationship with a child, your habits, or something else?
• What is one recurring thought or temptation that tends to make you question what God has said?
• Which of the three categories—flesh, eyes, or pride—most often exposes a vulnerability in you?
• What is one “It is written” Scripture you already know that you need to have ready when that battle comes?
• Where have you slipped into a “bunker mentality”—just trying to survive rather than intentionally moving toward what God is asking you to do?
• What would it look like to take one piece of ground back in your home this week?
• How could another dad in this group help you stand firm without trying to fight the battle for you?
• If your kids watched how you responded to temptation and pressure this week, what would you want them to learn about following Jesus?

Starting Thought: Be specific. Naming the ground makes it easier to identify the next faithful step.

Starting Thought: The recurring thought may be connected to fear, anger, inadequacy, lust, comparison, resentment, or control.

Starting Thought: None of these answers is about shame. Awareness is useful because it helps us recognize the attack.

Starting Thought: Choose something short enough to remember and specific enough to use when the pressure arrives.

Starting Thought: A bunker can feel safe, but staying hidden can keep us from obeying what God is asking us to do.

Starting Thought: Think about one conversation, habit, prayer, boundary, act of service, or change in attention.

Starting Thought: We go to battle together, but every man still has a personal responsibility to wield the weapon God has given him.

Starting Thought: Your kids learn not only from whether you win, but from how you respond when the battle is difficult.

Key Takeaways

The Battle Is Real

The enemy is not a fictional threat, and spiritual pressure is not something dads should dismiss. Awareness is part of being battle ready.

Question the Lie by Knowing the Truth

The enemy wants to make us question what God has said. Scripture gives us a reliable answer when feelings, temptation, and circumstances become confusing.

Use the Sword

God’s Word is meant to be wielded. The goal is not merely Bible knowledge; it is having truth ready when temptation arrives.

Stop Hiding and Start Taking Ground

The armor of God is not a bunker. God equips us to stand firm and move faithfully into our homes, relationships, and communities.

Live From the Victory of Jesus

Jesus has already accomplished the ultimate victory. We take ground as men who trust the victorious King and obey Him.

Practical Applications (15 minutes)

1. Identify one recurring temptation or lie. Write down which category it most resembles: flesh, eyes, or pride.
2. Find one Scripture that directly answers that temptation. Write it down somewhere you will see it during the week.
3. Practice saying your “It is written” response out loud. The goal is to build a reflex before the next battle arrives.
4. Identify one area of your home or fatherhood where you have been merely surviving. Pray specifically about what it would mean to take one faithful step forward.
5. Tell another dad what ground you are trying to take. Ask him to pray for you and check in with you later this week.

Dad Challenge of the Week: “It Is Written”

What it is: Choose one recurring battle you face as a dad this week. Find one biblical truth that directly answers it. Memorize it, write it down, and intentionally use it when the temptation or lie appears.

Why it matters: The sermon’s clearest picture of battle readiness is Jesus responding to temptation with Scripture. The goal isn’t to win an argument with the enemy. It is to bring God’s truth into the moment and then obey it.

Example:

“When I start thinking, ‘I’m failing as a dad,’ I’m going to stop and remind myself what God says is true. I’m not going to let that thought decide how I treat my family. I’m going to respond from God’s Word instead.”

Family extension: If appropriate for your children’s ages, tell them that Dad is practicing one “It is written” truth this week. Invite them to share one truth from Scripture they want to remember when they are afraid, angry, tempted, or discouraged.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You that You have not left us unarmed. Thank You for Your Word, Your Spirit, and the armor You provide. Forgive us for the times we have ignored the battle, hidden in a bunker, or allowed the enemy’s lies to become our truth. Help us recognize temptation and recognize the lies behind it. Teach us to know Your Word well enough to say, “It is written,” when the pressure comes. Give us courage to take ground in our minds, our homes, our marriages, our relationships, and our communities. And remind us that our confidence is not in our own strength. Jesus, You are the King of kings and Lord of lords, and the ultimate victory belongs to You. Help us live boldly from that victory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Leader Notes

Key themes to emphasize

• The sermon is not calling dads to paranoia; it is calling them to spiritual awareness and faithful obedience.
• The enemy’s strategy includes questioning God’s Word. Keep bringing the group back to what God has actually said.
• “It is written” is the practical centerpiece. Move the discussion from knowing Scripture to using Scripture.
• Taking ground does not mean controlling other people. It means submitting our own lives and homes to Jesus and taking faithful action where God has given us responsibility.
• The ultimate victory is Christ’s. This keeps the conversation from becoming a self-help message about trying harder.

What to watch for

• Some dads may interpret spiritual warfare as an excuse to blame every problem on Satan. Keep the group anchored in personal responsibility, repentance, wisdom, and obedience.
• Questions about temptation can surface shame. Let men be honest without forcing disclosure beyond what is appropriate for the group.
• Be careful not to frame “taking ground” as domination or control within marriage or family. The biblical model is faithful service and obedience to Christ.
• If discussion becomes abstract, bring it back to one concrete area: mind, marriage, kids, habits, work, friendships, or home.

Timing guide (60–75 minutes total)

• Icebreaker: 10 min
• Sermon Context + Key Points: 15–20 min
• Discussion Questions: 20–25 min
• Key Takeaways + Practical Applications: 10–15 min
• Dad Challenge + Closing Prayer: 5–10 min

Remember: You don’t take ground by becoming a stronger version of yourself. You take ground by standing in what God has already given you and trusting the victory Jesus has already won.