6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!
Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.
8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11 One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12 She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house. GENESIS 39:6-12 NLT

God’s Advice:

Run from sexual temptation

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. 2 TIMOTHY 2:22a NLT

Sexual sin can:

• Cause unrealistic expectations

…She fell in love with pictures that were painted on a wall… When she saw these paintings, she longed to give herself to them… She lusted after lovers with genitals as large as a donkey’s and emissions like those of a horse. EZEKIEL 23:14-15;16;20 NLT

• Create false intimacy

The Four Stages of Relational Intimacy: Physical Attraction *> *Emotional Connection *> *Spiritual Covenant > Sexual Union

• Destroy your marriage

But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself. PROVERBS 6:32 NLT

• Harm your body

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 1 CORINTHIANS 6:18 NLT

• Bring God’s judgment

God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. HEBREWS 13:4 NLT
I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin. 1 CORINTHIANS 5:11 NLT

Run to real Christian community

Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 TIMOTHY 2:22b NLT
Real Christian community is focused on grace and truth

By God’s grace, the church can help me:

• In the healing process

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. JAMES 5:16 NLT

• Shape new desires

You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 1 PETER 4:2 NLT

• Build deep friendships

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. JOHN 17:21 NLT

• Discover God’s plan for sex

Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations. But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband… Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 1 CORINTHIANS 7:1-2;5 NLT

Community Group Discussion Guide

1. We have all been sexually tempted. In what situations you have found that you need to just run?
2. How has the world’s picture of sexuality shaped your view of sex, and your sexuality?
3. How does your view of sexuality need to be reshaped? What would be your prayer to God in this?
4. What are your thoughts of the four stages of relational intimacy?
5. Have you ever gotten these out of order? If so, what were the consequences?
6. How can you encourage single or dating members of the group based on this sermon?
7. What’s challenging for you as a married couple? As a single person?
8. How can this group balance grace and truth when it comes to sex?

Prayer Reflection Guide

Find a place where you can be alone with God. Allow you body, mind and heart to become still. Have a conversation with God about when your view on sex became sinful. Ask some questions like, “What happened? Who influenced me? Where was sinful sexuality nurtured in me?” Be willing to follow the Lord’s leading in this time with him. Pray and ask him to help you take your next step towards sexual purity. If you’re willing, share with your group and/or reach out to help@sandalschurch.com for guidance.