ROOMS - Sample Lesson

J a m e s L . R u b a Rt

Ro

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s James L. R

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t H e s m a L L - G R o u p e x p e R I e n C e

Rooms: The Small-Group ExperienceSmall-Group Study GuidePublished by LifeWay Press® ©2011 James L. Rubart All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, without express written permission of the publisher. Request for permission should be addressed to LifeWay Press®, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175. ISBN: 978-1-4158-7150-8 Item: 005456793

Dewey Decimal Classification: 248.84 Subject Headings: SPIRITUAL LIFE \ SOUL \ BIBLE—STUDY Unless otherwise marked, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Scriptures marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Scriptures marked The Message are from The Message, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Published by NavPress. Used by permission.

To order additional copies of this resource, order online at www.lifeway.com; write LifeWay Small Groups; One LifeWay Plaza; Nashville, TN 37234-0175; fax order to (615) 251-5933; or call toll-free (800) 458-2772.

Printed in the United States of America

Leadership and Adult PublishingLifeWay Church ResourcesOne LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN 37234-0175

Contents

A Word from the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Week 1 Woundedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Week 2 destiny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Week 3 Warfare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Week 4 freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Leader Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Welcome to Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Sharing Your Stories/Sharing Your Lives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Leading a Small Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Group Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

4 Rooms Small-Group Experience

A Word from the Author

If you long for freedom, if you long to be healed from wounds that have assaulted you, if you want to step more fully into your divinely-designed destiny, this study is for you.

In the novel Rooms, Micah Taylor was given an extraordinary gift—the chance to physically walk into the rooms of his soul. Through this study you’ll get the opportunity to explore the rooms of your soul and discover ways to bring more light and freedom into those rooms than you’ve ever known before.

While Rooms: The Small-Group Experience uses the story, characters, and themes from the novel, it has been created so that even someone who has not read the book—or who does not intend to—can still find fresh perspectives and strong biblical content for becoming a more effective disciple. However, it stands to reason that the most beneficial way to experience Rooms: The Small-Group Experience is to have the best understanding of the novel.

At the time I wrote Rooms, I had a thriving business, but there was an emptiness in my heart. I knew there was something else I was supposed to do with my life. I even knew what it was. But I was scared to pursue my dream. I kept asking myself, What happens if I pursue my dream and the dream crashes and burns? What do I do then? But I’ve learned that there is no failure in the kingdom of God—there is only failure to risk.

Just as there was another destiny for Micah Taylor, there was another destiny for me. Rooms is the story of my heart and my life. Rooms is the story of anyone who longs to step into greater freedom, step into the glory of how God uniquely made you, step into the destiny planned for you before time began.

Is that your story?

I don’t know how long you’ve been waiting for healing, freedom, or the chance to step into your destiny, but however long it’s been, it’s worth fighting and believing for one more day.

Rooms Small-Group Experience 5

There are a few things I want you to be aware of as you begin your study:

1. You’ll be tempted to miss a session. Don’t be surprised when this happens. God wants you to be free. The Enemy of your soul does not. And the meeting you’re tempted to skip will likely be the one you need most.

2. You’ll be tempted to be silent during some of the sharing times. Be bold. Step out and tell your group what you’re thinking. Too often we think we’re the only one who has experienced what we’ve experienced. Not true. Speaking these things out loud to one another will break their power. Plus, when you share something that’s difficult for you to share, it will free up others to be honest. Great healing comes from a willingness to be vulnerable with other followers of Jesus.

3. You’ll be tempted to put a lid on your emotions. Again and again I hear readers say that Rooms brought up emotions they hadn’t felt in years. (Some they wanted to feel, some they didn’t.) But both kinds are good. The Lord desires healing and freedom for us, but to do so we have to feel those feelings. Give yourself permission to feel great joy, great sadness, and great anticipation for the future during the course of this study.

4. There will be times during the study when you’ll want to give up. Thoughts will enter your mind such as, This isn’t for me. I don’t deserve healing and freedom. Or, Maybe this will work for others, but not me. It’s too late for me to step into my destiny. Those are lies—all lies. Be ready. And don’t give up.

As you study Rooms: The Small-Group Experience, be willing to think in new directions. Open yourself to ideas you never considered before. And ask the Holy Spirit to do a revolutionary work in your heart.

Ready? Let’s go!

James L. Rubart

About the Author

JAMES L. RUBART is a husband, dad, writer, and professional speaker—in that order. He graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and is the best-selling author of Rooms, Book of Days, and The Chair.

During the day James runs Barefoot Marketing— a full service ad agency, marketing, and consulting firm. In his free time he dirt bikes, backpacks, golfs, and dabbles in photography.

James lives just outside of Seattle, Washington with his wife and their two teenage sons. More information about James and his work can be found at www.jameslrubart.com.


Week 1 7

WEEk 1

Woundedness


The Spirit of the Lord God … has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted. Isaiah 61:1

We’ve all been wounded. But we often have a hard time talking about it. We feel those old wounds shouldn’t bother us any longer. We say things to ourselves like, It was so long ago. Get over it. The past is the past. Jesus makes all things new. But the wounds from our past—and present—can take us out and shut us down.

Remember that old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? Not so. Words deliver deeper wounds than sticks or stones ever could. The wounds of words come against our hearts. And those scars go deep.

Early in Rooms we learn that Micah’s major wound comes from his father. His father blames Micah for his mom’s death, Micah has accepted the blame, and this lie has shaped Micah’s entire life. Even though this is a work of fiction, it’s a legitimate question to ask if Micah’s dad even knew how his own woundedness and pain were playing out in his son’s life.

In an effort to avoid confronting his deep woundedness, Micah buried himself in success, career, and toys. But he eventually learned he couldn’t outrun or outlast the wounds of his heart. God relentlessly pursued him to bring healing. Ultimately Micah was able to identify and confront his wound. But it wasn’t an easy journey.

Many of us carry a major wound from early in our spiritual formation, but we also carry wounds from other stages of life as well. If we want to be healed, we need to be willing to face our pain, feel the emotions, and allow Jesus to bring healing.

During this session we’ll look most prominently at what woundedness is and how it affects our ability to understand what’s going on around us. Most of us have no idea how we tend to filter and process events through the knocks of life. And we’ll also talk about how we can find healing—true healing.

Week 1 9

Writing your story (10 minutes)

Leader: Use this time to overview the themes found in Rooms.

What scene from the novel has most resonated with you as you have engaged the story?

As a discipline we should pay attention to what moves us. What would you say has moved you most about the story or characters present in Rooms up to this point?

What might this reveal about how you understand the world around you, about what God is showing you through this story, or about conclusions you’ve come to?

If you’ve been reading Rooms prior to starting this small-group study, you’ve likely noticed several recurring themes.

Leader: Ask a volunteer(s) to look up and read the verses below.

The primary themes from Rooms are: Woundedness: Isaiah 61:1 Destiny: Ephesians 2:6 Warfare: 1 Peter 5:8 Freedom: Galatians 5:1

Which, if any, of these topics make you the most uncomfortable and why?

Leader: Show the vignette videos on faith, risk, and surrender.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the “evidence of things not seen” (KJV). What does the evidence look like to you? How do you know the evidence is real?

What keeps you asking God to tell you that it’s going to be OK? What’s holding you back?

Have you discovered a means for discerning when surrender is true and authentic instead of passive? What separates surrender from passivity?


Lead in (10 minutes)

Leader: Give everyone an opportunity to answer the first question. Then do the same for the second. Remember that the objective here is to get everyone involved.

What do you think of when you hear the term wounded?

• A physical injury • An emotional hurt• Something that should be • Something that should be stuffed talked about and denied• People who admit wounds • People who admit wounds are strong are weak. and healthy.• Emotional wounds are with • Healing is possible for our emotional us forever. wounds.• Other • Other

Do you think it is possible to heal the deepest pain? Or do you think we should just move on and cope by whatever means is available to us?

Week 1 11

setting (5 minutes)

When we first meet Micah he doesn’t seem the type to be carrying any wounds. He’s a smart, successful software tycoon. He has a beautiful girlfriend, travels the world, and hangs out with the rich and famous— all the things we often attribute to those who have it all together.

By outward appearances he is living the life. But we can’t see what’s on the inside—Micah’s heart. As it turns out, Micah’s heart was pulverized when he was young.

We first get a hint of this when he rubs the scar on his wrist in the first chapter of the book and also when he blows up at the head of his legal team in the conference room. After losing his temper, Micah admits that a cryptic letter from a great uncle he never knew has stirred up deep emotions from his childhood. The letter claims a home awaits him on the Oregon coast. In Cannon Beach. The one place he loves. But also the one place he never wants to see again.

As the story of Micah unfolds, a number of his deep wounds are revealed—the wounds that would shape his life forever. Most significant was the day he watched his mom drown as she tried to rescue his beach ball from the ocean. Then there was the baseball game when Micah struck out, his dad became angry, and he blamed Micah for his mom’s death shouting, “You killed this game just like you killed your mom!”

From that point forward Micah filtered every aspect of life—from his relationships to his job to his role as president of the company—through these wounds.

Some people can’t point to one or two or three major wounds—scenes from their lives that have wounded them deeply and consequently defined them. But most of us can.

We’ll explore that idea and others through the rest of our study this week.


Listening Guide

Leader: Play the video titled “Woundedness” (7:40). Encourage group members to follow along and take additional notes as they hear things that speak strongly to their own stories.

1. “I have come to the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1).

2. As in Jeremiah 6:14, we put on our wounds instead of finding healing.

3. “The glory of God is man fully .”

4. Our woundedness keeps us from being .

5. The great desire of the Great Healer is to bring .

Week 1 13

Video discussion (10 minutes)

Leader: This time is intended for discussion within the group about what they heard, how they were affected, and personal applications. As time permits, allow group members to share other thoughts they had from the video that aren’t covered here.

Early in the novel, Micah enters a room where painful events from his past play on the walls like Super 8 movies, grainy replays of hundreds of wounds from his life. From girls breaking his heart, to dropping the game-winning touchdown, to screwing up his job at the sign company, to being teased by kids at school.

Our own versions of these scenes plague most of us. We try to make those memories go away. Or ignore them. Or bury them deep in our hearts like Micah did.

1. Jeremiah 6:14 says, “They have treated My people’s brokenness superficially, claiming, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” How does this passage summarize the way we tend to treat our wounds?

It’s like covering a mortal wound with a Band-Aid. The poison is still inside and until it comes out there won’t be true healing.

2. What do you do when poison images from the past play over and over in your mind? Do you try to block them out or do you choose to take them captive and bring them into the light? Explain.

3. “The glory of God is man fully alive” (Saint Irenaeus). In what ways have you experienced this? How would you explain this to somebody?


Bible study (25 minutes)

Leader: Before you begin, ask a group member to read the Scripture passage aloud.

1 The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord handed them over to Midian seven years, 2 and they oppressed Israel. Because of Midian, the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the Qedemites came and attacked them. 4 They encamped against them and destroyed the produce of the land, even as far as Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to eat, as well as no sheep, ox or donkey. 5 For the Midianites came with their cattle and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to waste it. 6 So Israel became poverty-stricken because of Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the Lord. Judges 6:1-6

1. Describe the circumstances of Israel.

2. How do you think the constant attacks and loss of valuables contributed to their understanding of the world—and even God?

Week 1 15

Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to [Gideon] and said: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Judges 6:12

3. What is God saying to Gideon? How does God see him?

Clearly God wants to take care of those broken places in our hearts that have been taken captive.


4. So, why do you think God allows us to be wounded?

5. Do you think it is possible to live with your wounds? Explain.

The fact is that Micah could have continued his life … and so can you.

6. But what do you think it means to live less than whole and healed?

Leader: If you wish to show this clip from Disney’s The Kid, play Chapter 7, “Déjà Vu,” from 27:33-32:28. Or you can just use the following commentary to set the scene for group members.

In Disney’s The Kid, Bruce Willis plays a driven man named Russ Duritz who has a high paying job, prestige, and no relationship with his father— by choice.

A couple of days before his 40th birthday, Russ’s world is turned upside down as the 8-year-old version of himself shows up to uncover the wound that makes Russ keep his dad a million miles away.

Russ was deeply wounded by his father and it shifted the course of his life. But healing comes when Russ is willing to revisit his pain.

Week 1 17

7. Why do you think God would want us to revisit our painful places?

Merriam Webster defines mosaic as a “decoration made by inlaying small pieces of variously colored material to form pictures or patterns.” Isn’t that what God does with us? He takes the shattered pieces of our lives, the wounded pieces that have been colored by various choices we’ve made or things that have been done to us and He puts them back together to form a new picture, a new person—a masterpiece.


interaction (15 minutes)

Identifying and writing our wounds down can be a powerful exercise. This puts us in a better position to stop making choices based on past pain. It’s the point at which true healing can begin.

I hope this activity will help you experience just that.

You will be handed a small piece of paper and asked to write down one or two of your most significant wounds. When you’re finished, drop your paper in the container your leader has provided. And once everyone is finished, your group leader will burn the papers.

Leader: As time permits, provide group members with an opportunity to debrief and process what they have just experienced through this exercise. You may want to use some of these questions to guide that time. Bring the exercise to a conclusion by praying.

Was it hard to identify your wound and write it down? Why or why not?

Do you feel there was healing in this process? Explain.

What emotions did you experience as you watched your wound being consumed by fire?

Week 1 19

final thoughts (5 minutes)

Identifying the events, conclusions, and circumstances that the Enemy has used to hold us back is an enormous undertaking and this is only the beginning of that journey.

What friend can you share your wounds with so he or she can pray for you and encourage you as you work through this process?

I’m confident our discussion of woundedness has stirred your emotions. It’s tough. That’s why many followers of Jesus never allow themselves to go back into their wounds. But if you’re willing, there is great healing available.Jesus came to heal our broken hearts.

The Enemy wants you to feel isolated, like you’re the only one who has this type of brokenness, but that’s a lie. It’s hard to talk about our wounds to ourselves, let alone others. The Enemy fights this, because if he can keep us from going into our wounds and getting healed, he’ll keep us from our destiny and freedom. He’ll make us feel ashamed and embarrassed. He’ll try to get us to keep the wound buried like Micah did.

But when you are willing to reveal your wounds to your community—those who love you—you will also release them to tell their deepest wounds. So I encourage you to push through the fear of admitting where you’ve been wounded, even to yourself, and expose it to the love and tenderness of Jesus so He can come and shine unfathomable light into every corner of your soul.


devotion 1: Hard Hitters

I will certainly bring health and healing to it and will indeed heal them. I will let them experience the abundance of peace and truth. Jeremiah 33:6

In this week’s video message I asked a couple of hard-hitting questions. Take some time to consider them now:

What walls have you put around your heart? Why?

How has the Enemy wounded you? How has he attempted to take you out, to keep you from your glory, to keep you from being fully alive?

Are you allowing God full access to rebuild you from your hurts? Why or why not?

What does the Lord promise us in Jeremiah 33:6?

What hope does this passage stir in your soul?

God is a God of healing. Thank the Lord and praise Him for all that He is doing—and that you know He can and will do—in your life.

Week 1 21

devotion 2: Cross the Line

35 Don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:35-36

Sometimes we need to take action and put ourselves in a vulnerable position before a wound can be healed. Many of us have wounds where the final piece of the healing process is for us to step forward. And sometimes that final healing requires us to step forward more than once. But in the end, the reward is great.

Is there a wound in your life that has caused you to throw away your confidence? Explain.

Do you fear you are missing out on a great reward by not pressing forward? What might that reward look like?

The final piece of the healing process is to take action. What do you think that process might involve for you?


devotion 3: a safe Haven

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught. Mark 6:30

I used to take a golf trip with a group of buddies every year. One year I talked about the wound from my past when my three closest friends went to see Olivia Newton John in concert and left me out. It was devastating.

On Monday before we went home, one of the guys handed me a newspaper clipping advertising an Olivia Newton John concert and shared how much my vulnerability spoke to him. They all knew that it wasn’t about the concert. It was about abandonment and being excluded. God’s redemptive story was played out through these friends.

That simple gesture meant a great deal. It meant my friends heard me. It meant they had empathy for my pain. And they were able to offer me humor and healing.

Look over Mark 6:1-29. Much was going on in the lives of the apostles. When they had the opportunity, they stopped to share with Jesus all they had experienced (v. 30). Jesus listened as they shared their stories. And we’re called to do the same. It’s a requirement but it’s mostly a gift.

Is there someone you sense the Holy Spirit is suggesting you talk to about your wound(s), a safe place where you can get the secrets out into the light and the healing can begin?

Is there anyone you need to go to and offer a listening ear who might need to tell you his or her wound(s)?

Micah had to face his deepest wound before he could receive his greatest healing. Are you willing to face your deepest wound? I pray you will be.

Week 1 23

devotion 4: Heart and soul

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Proverbs 4:23

Scripture tells us to guard our hearts above all else. And part of protecting our hearts is to give them adequate exercise. Once Jesus starts to heal our broken hearts and make them whole again, we need to keep them strong.

How do you exercise your heart spiritually? It’s different for everyone. We’re all wonderfully and fearfully and differently made.

Here are some of the ways I exercise my heart:Take a long ride on my motorcycle Take photosListen to stirring instrumental music Read a powerful novelTake a hike in the woods Sit in solitude and silenceListen to worship music Craft something out of woodSpend time with my wife Spend time with my boys

Now it’s your turn. Make a list of the things that stir your heart, that make it come alive, that inspire you.

Pick one or two and make time to do them sometime in the next seven days.

Ro

om

s James L. R

ub

aRt

A Connect Resource

on a rainy spring day in seattle, young software tycoon micah taylor receives a cryptic letter from a great uncle he never knew. It claims a home awaits him on the oregon coast. In Cannon beach. the one place he loves. the one place he never wants to see again. but strange things happen in the house. things micah can’t explain. things he can barely believe. the locals say that the house is “spiritual.” but micah slowly discovers the house isn’t just spiritual, it is a physical manifestation—of his soul.

Rooms is the story of anyone who longs to step into greater freedom, step into the glory of how God uniquely made you, step into the destiny planned for you before time began.

Rooms: The Small-Group Experience is based on the novel by the same title and will guide you through its four most significant themes:

Woundedness: Consider the events of your life that have tended to drive your behavior most.

Destiny: explore the true desires of your heart, what makes you come alive, and what you have been divinely designed to do.

Warfare: Identify the voices in your life, recognize truth from lies, and realize the potent weapons at your disposal for combating the enemy.

Freedom: Journey toward greater freedom in Christ through the sort of healing made possible in Him.

James L. Rubart is a professional marketer, speaker, and writer. He graduated from the university of Washington with a degree in broadcast Journalism and is the best-selling author of Rooms, Book of Days, and The Chair. James lives just outside of seattle, Washington with his wife and their two teenage sons.

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ROOMS - Sample Lesson