Fellowship Group Notes – Genesis 39:1-23 – Temptation                                                                                          Introduction (39v1-6a)
Who was Potiphar and what do we know about him? What position did Joseph gain in Potiphar’s household and why? 
1.	The Temptation (39v6b-10)
Notice the similarity here between Joseph’s temptation and the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden ... everything was entrusted into their care, except for one thing ... what was that in each case?
What was the temptation Joseph faced? Also look at Mrs Potiphar’s approach in tempting Joseph – and discuss. 
Why was Joseph, at this stage in his life, particularly susceptible to this type of temptation ... looking at the following verses describe the different factors affecting Joseph’s vunerability ... 
v. 1 	Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt . . . 	
v. 6 	Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 	
v. 7 	. . . his master's wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 	
vv. 8-9 	. . . my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge... There is no one greater in this house than I, . . . 	
v. 10 	As she spoke to Joseph day after day, . . . 	
v. 11 	. . . and none of the men of the household was there inside. 	
v. 12 	She caught him by his garment, . . . 	
Might we be more susceptible to certain temptations at different stages in our lives? (Think about other temptations other than sex such as dishonesty, lack of integrity, greed, anger, hate, gossip) -  Discuss
2.	The Response (39v11-20a)
How did Joseph respond and resist the temptation? (Note: each verse may contain more than one answer) 
v. 8 	But he refused . . . 	
v. 10 	. . . he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her. 	
v. 12 	And he . . . fled, and went outside. 	
What lessons can we learn from Joseph in how to resist temptation? (See also 2 Timothy 2v22, 1 Cor 10v12)
We can see that for Joseph this wasn’t a one off temptation, but a daily battle! (v10) Look at the passage to see what decisions Joseph made beforehand which meant that he was able to gain victory over sin on this last occasion?
There is an old saying, “fail to plan, plan to fail!” how is this true in the area of temptation? In what ways can we plan ahead so that we aren’t tempted? Is that always possible? (Read also Matthew 6v13. 1 Cor 10v13b)
3.	The Reason (39v9)
Read Titus 2v9-10. As a servant who had been left in charge of nearly all of Potiphar’s possessions there was the temptation to use or misuse his position in taking things that belonged to Potiphar ... why did Joseph refuse to succumb to temptation? (v9)
Against whom did Joseph perceive the sin was against? Why God and not Potiphar? (See Psalm 51v4, Prov 9v10)
What does this tell you about Joseph's relationship with God and his consciousness of God's presence? 
What are some specific steps we can take to deepen our relationship with God and our sense of His reality? ... (Note: Putting these steps into practice in our daily lives will help us as we battle temptation) 
Why don’t you think Potiphar in his position choose to imprison Joseph and not have him executed immediately? 
Prayer Points – That we might resist temptation and not allow ourselves to be put into the position of being tempted.                                                                                                                                    – Up and coming Sunday Services (especially for various preachers taking PM services) 			          gmr