1. Audacity

One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”

His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.

Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”

This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?” —Genesis 37:5-10 (NLT)

2. Likeability

So Joseph lived in the home of Potiphar, his Egyptian owner.

Soon Potiphar realized that the Lord was helping Joseph to be successful in whatever he did. Potiphar liked Joseph and made him his personal assistant, putting him in charge of his house and all of his property. —Genesis 39:2-4 (CEV)

3. Capacity

This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. —Genesis 39:4-5 (NLT)

4. Reliability

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! —Genesis 39:6 (NLT)

5. Loyalty

Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 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.” —Genesis 39:6-9 (NLT)

6. Integrity

The woman talked to Joseph every day, but he refused to have sexual relations with her or even spend time with her. —Genesis 39:10 (NCV)

F3 Discussion Questions

Icebreaker: What was your first job?

1. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance.” – Colossians 4:23-24. According to this verse, what is our motivation for work? What do you think this inheritance is?

2. Matthew 5:15-16 says, “Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” How does our light shine? How can you let it shine in the workplace?

3. In his lifetime, Joseph’s capacity grew and he was promoted from slave to household administrator. His job performance brought honor to Potiphar, and God blessed Potiphar because of Joseph. What skill can you learn or improve on to benefit your employer/place of service?

4. “For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He puts down one, and sets up another.” – Psalms 75:6-7. What does the Bible say about promotion?

Going deeper:

Six ways for standing out at work (SHINES) and six related traits are: Step out in faith with audacity. Help others succeed, enhancing your likability. Improve yourself daily, growing your capacity. Never make excuses, demonstrating reliability. Eliminate gossip, showing loyalty. Safeguard your life by being a person of integrity. Which one of these traits could you commit to work on this week?