2. Biblical Foundation: John 16:16–33 What stood out to you in this passage? 

3. Discuss the disciples perplexity in verses 18-20a. Can you relate to times when you've felt confused or uncertain about God's plan?

4. Navigating Questions with God: How did Jesus respond when the disciples had questions? (John 16:19-20). Do you feel comfortable bringing your questions to God? Why or why not?

5. Does God want us to be Happy? – More than Happy. Joyful. Happiness is often associated with happenings. It's circumstantial. Joy that we read about earlier is  associated with Jesus and the Holy Spirit! See what Jesus said in John chapter 15:11. How can you cultivate more joy in your life? 

6. The Principle of Transformation: How does this Principle of turning sorrow into joy resonate with the experience of childbirth? (John 16:20–21) Share personal experiences where God transformed sorrow into joy in your life. 

7. Transform, not Remove or Replace. Discuss the difference between God replacing or removing sorrow with joy versus transforming sorrow into joy. How does this concept impact your understanding of God's work?

8. Share a personal story of how God transformed a problematic situation in your life, bringing joy out of sorrow. 

9. The Promise of Joy. Reflect on the promise of Joy Jesus gives regarding prayer in John 16:23–24. How can a direct connection with God the Father through prayer enhance your joy? What else does God's word tell us about joy? James 1:2-4, Psalm 16:11,1 Peter 1:8-9, Romans 15:13. 

10. Read about what Pastor Ryan called “The Prayer of Faith” in John 16:25-28. We learned that we have direct access to God because why? What’s Jesus say? Discuss a time when you experienced the power of prayer in your life. Why is it so important to see prayers answered? 

11. In vs. 29-32, we see the Presumption of the Disciples. Reflect on a time when you made assumptions about a situation without considering God’s word more carefully.  

12. In vs. 33, we find a promise of peace. The Peace of Christ!  In what ways does Jesus offer a different kind of peace than the world does? How can we experience the peace of Christ in the midst of life's challenges and uncertainties? Share an example of a time when you felt the peace of Christ surpassing your understanding.

13. In the closing vs.33 we read Jesus says, “I have overcome the world.” As read passages of scripture, we get the since that because Jesus overcame the world, so can we through Christ!  Colossians 2:15, tells us that Jesus, “disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”  And the Apostle John said… "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:4-5, NIV) What is one specific area in your life you need to overcome and why is it so important to keep this mind set in perspective? 

14. How can your small group support each other in seeking joy from a deeper connection with the Holy Spirit? Note to the leader. As a leader, you will need to determine if one or two people need the entire group to stop and pray for them. You can circle up the whole group, lay hands on this individual, and pray for them.  

Prayer for the group

End your session with a prayer, thanking God for the transformative work of the Holy Spirit and asking for His guidance as you navigate seasons of joy and sorrow. Encourage each member to actively seek God's joy and share their journey with the group.