55.

Winning the souls of grieving disciples P 2

John 16:16-33

  • Session: 55
  • Week: 9
  • Day: 1
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Introduction

In this session, John 16: 16-33, Jesus talked to his troubled disciples how their grief would turn into joy. Going through the process of grief is important to turning grief into joy only through the work of God and his people. Jesus called it a little while season before converting grief into joy. Jesus did not hide his disciples that in the world they would encounter trouble, but he also promised them the peace of the lord to shield them

Objectives

By the end of this session the learner will have:

  • Understood the principles of encouragement of the promise of turning grief into joy
  • Appreciated the peace of the lord in a world full of trouble.

Outline

  • Turning Sadness into joy
  • A little while
  • You will have trouble in the world

Group Study Time

John 16:16-33

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

  • What is grief? When should the grief cycle begin for the persecuted believers? John 16: 5-6. What is peace, how do we overcome the world?
  • Read John 16: 16-20. What did Jesus mean by the phrase “a little while. You will not see me, and in a little while you will see me…”
  • Read John 16: 16-33. Write down three truths revealed how disciples’ sadness will be turned into Joy, why is the misunderstanding of truth the main cause of sadness?

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.

Post Lesson Teaching Summary

Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!

Winning the souls of grieving disciples P 2

John 16:16-33

John 16:16-33

  • Scripture Focus: John 16:16-33—Disciples’ grief turning into joy.
  • Context:
    • Jesus spoke to troubled disciples about the Holy Spirit’s role: reminding them of His teachings, comforting, and teaching all truth.
    • Disciples struggled to understand; Jesus promised their grief would turn to joy.
  • Cycle of Grief:
    • Grief follows loss (e.g., money, friends, opportunities, health); it’s natural.
    • Stages:
      • Denial: Refusing to accept the loss (e.g., disciples denying Jesus’ predictions of hatred).
      • Anger: Frustration over the reality of loss.
      • Bargaining: Attempting to negotiate the loss away.
      • Depression: Feeling at the bottom, hopeless, potentially leading to despair or upward to acceptance.
      • Acceptance: Where grief can turn to joy.
    • Jesus, per Hebrews 12, endured the cross for the joy ahead, not the pain itself.
  • Jesus’ Teaching on Grief Turning to Joy:
    • Truth in Advance: Told disciples beforehand (e.g., persecution, death) so they’d have peace, preparing them to process grief early.
    • Peace Amid Trouble: Assured peace in Him despite worldly trouble, because He overcame the world (system opposing God).
      • World hates God, not believers personally; opposition targets their faith.
      • Peace is hope beyond turmoil, not absence of problems, rooted in Jesus’ victory.
    • Temporary Nature: “A little while”—grief is seasonal, not permanent.
      • Disciples wouldn’t see Him (cross), then would (resurrection); grief would turn to complete joy.
      • Example: Disciples wept, hid, and deserted during His death, but this was temporary.
  • Encouragement:
    • Grief from faith in Jesus is a “little while”; seasons change (Ecclesiastes 3).
    • All works together for good (Romans 8:28), not that all is good, but difficulties shape faith.
    • God’s peace—beyond worldly peace—sustains through the valley, turning grief to joy.