NASHVILLE, Tenn., 3/3/2011 – In what may be a publishing industry first, a small group curriculum kit for churches is being developed based on a modern Christian novel. Rooms, James L. Rubart’s best-selling debut, will be available beginning in September 2011 with an expanded study guide and teaching DVD led by the author. LifeWay Church Resources is producing the additional content in association with B&H Publishing Group who first released the book. Both are owned by LifeWay Christian Resources.
The story of a young man whose coastal Oregon house is revealed to be a physical manifestation of his soul, Rooms reached No. 1 on the Amazon.com Kindle Store download chart, hit the ECPA Christian Fiction Bestsellers list, and was named Best Inspirational Novel of 2010 by RT Book Reviews. Readers have boldly compared Rubart’s tale to The Screwtape Letters (C. S. Lewis) and Pilgrim’s Progress (John Bunyan). The new curriculum will further discussion, focusing on key themes in the novel including spiritual warfare and destiny.
“This will be a tool for churches to reach out to their members in a new way,” says LifeWay’s small group curriculum director Brian Daniel. “It gives the small group leader an opportunity to use story to convey messages and themes found in Scripture.”
B&H fiction manager Julie Gwinn agrees, saying, “Jesus taught using parables; stories are certainly an effective way to stimulate thinking about important issues of life and faith. We’ve definitely seen that happening with Rooms, so we’re very excited to bring this story to the church.”
Rubart says, “Although I’m an author, my writing is only a means to an end; hopefully a conduit through which together we can discover how to step into greater freedom in every moment. I look forward to talking more about that in this new Rooms study.”
Rubart’s third novel, The Chair, about an elderly women who gives an antiques dealer a piece of furniture she claims was made by Jesus Christ, will also be released in September 2011.
LifeWay Church Resources consults with churches and delivers biblical solutions for life through a variety of ministries, resources, enrichment and training events, and age-group products, including Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, small groups, leadership development, evangelism, discipleship, music, worship, marriage, and parenting.
B&H Publishing Group produces Bibles and reference books, trade books by authors including Beth Moore, academic books, and a diverse line of church supplies. Recent releases include The New York Times No. 1 best seller The Love Dare and the HCSB Study Bible. B&H is also a leading publisher of Spanish language Bibles.