You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

1. 1) How is a pearl formed?

    2) What can you learn from the formation of a pearl?

2. 1) Why does God allow suffering to Christians?

    2) What is the meaning of Ephesians 2:8-10?

    3) What is the meaning of Philippians 1:6?

3. How would you response to suffering?

    1) James 1:2-4

    2) 1 Peter 4:13, Hebrew 12:3

    3) 1 Thessalonians 5:18

4. 1) What did Jesus mean when He said, “In a little while you will see me no more”? (v. 16)

    2) What did Jesus mean when He said, “After a little while you will see me”?

5. 1) If you were to take up the cross of Jesus, would you find the length of time for crucifixion-suffering to be short or long?

    2) How could Jesus describe the length of time for crucifixion-suffering to be just a little while?

        (1)                                             (2)

6. 1) Which one would give you more joy; the world or Christian life?

    2) Why do you think so?

7. 1) Can you think about 3 joyous holidays in your country? 

    2) According to what basis were these holidays first originated to be celebrated?

    3) What are the three joyous Christian holidays?

    4) According to what basis are these Christian holidays celebrated?

    5) What are the common characteristics of Christian holidays as compared to worldly holidays?

8. 1) Which one would you prefer to have; meaningless pleasure of the world or meaningful suffering?

    2) Illustrate some worldly pleasures that would end up in suffering?

    3) What kind of sufferings brings joy at the end?

    4) Are there such sufferings as meaningless sufferings?

    5) Which suffering can you go through more easily; sufferings for a meaningful purpose or suffering without any meaningful purpose? For example, which suffering can you go through more easily, the pain from an appendectomy surgery or labor (birth) pain?

9. How can a mother forget pain of labor after delivering a baby?

10. What will give you strength to overcome sufferings?

Life application:

1. What is your response when you are going through sufferings?

2. How do you pray when you are going through sufferings?

Prayer:

Dear God! Thank you for the suffering and grief that you allow me to go through as a child of God. Help me understand the meaning of this suffering so that my experience of this suffering would not be wasted.  Reveal to me the beautiful and precious outcome at the end of suffering so that I may overcome this suffering with joy and thanksgiving.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.