Satisfaction Model of Evangelism

Finding Eternal Satisfaction!

Is 55:1-7  

On the back of he Hotline card:

Why spend money on . . .

                         what does not satisfy?

                                                                        God

I can't get no satisfaction.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can't get no, I can't get no.

                                                      Rolling Stones

Seek the Lord while He may be found;

call on Him while He is near

Let the wicked forsake his way

and the evil man his thoughts.

Let him turn to the Lord,

and He will have mercy on him,

and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

                                              God Isaiah 55:6-7  

Introduction:

Make the following statement after you have gotten to know the person and are prepared to share the gospel with them.

The Rolling Stones are ancient, but they still have appeal to all generations.

They wrote a song called Satisfaction

The chorus is on the back of the card.

I can't get no satisfaction,
I can't get no satisfaction.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can't get no, I can't get no.

Then ask the following questions to create discussion:

o        What do you think they are trying to say?

                (The lyrics talk about a man, how he can't find satisfaction in life)

                See the whole lyrics below if you don't already know them.

                When I'm drivin' in my car and that man comes on the radio
                and he's tellin' me more and more about some useless information
                                supposed to fire my imagination.
                I can't get no, oh no no no.Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

                When I'm watchin' my TVand that man comes on to tell me how white my shirts can be.
                Well he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke the same cigarettes as me.
                I can't get no, oh no no no.Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

                When I'm ridin' round the world and I'm doin' this and I'm signing that
                                and I'm tryin' to make some girl
                who tells me baby better come back later next week 'cause you see I'm on losing streak.
                I can't get no, oh no no no.Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

                I can't get no, I can't get no,I can't get no satisfaction,
                no satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction.

o       What brings you the greatest satisfaction in life?

            Family, Friends, Fun, or something else?

o       Why does it bring you such a feeling of satisfaction?

o       What destroys that feeling of satisfaction?

o       What makes the satisfaction last?

After asking these questions and listening to their response make this or a similar statement:

The song Satisfaction and life in general, reveals the reality that satisfaction is temporal and changing, but it doesn't present any viable options. In the real world most people exist in an unfulfilled and unsatisfied life rather than finding someone or something that ultimately satisfies. 

Personal Satisfaction Story

Then ask, Can I tell you what brings ultimate satisfaction to my life?

If yes, continue

I have ultimate satisfaction through my relationship with Jesus.

• Before I became a follower of Jesus I sought satisfaction in . . .  (share an area of your life where you lacked fulfillment or satisfaction and an illustration that expresses            your desire for satisfaction)

• Then I realized it wouldn't bring what I was looking for.

• I found that in a relationship with Jesus I could have complete and eternal satisfaction.

• Now that I am a follower of Jesus Christ I found satisfaction in . . .      (share how a relationship with Jesus has fulfilled the area where you lacked fulfillment or satisfaction and an illustration that expresses how He satisfies. Be honest about continued struggles, but forgiveness in the areas that you share)

Then ask, Has there ever been a point in time when you entered into a relationship with Jesus?

Believer Response:

• If yes, ask, Would you mind telling me about it?  Listen for a true conversion and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.

True Believer

• If they are a believer encourage them and ask them to join us for worship, prayer and ministry. You might ask, How can we pray for you this week to stay faithful in your commitment to the Lord?

Backslidden Believer

                        If they are a backslidden believer then you might use the method below:

• Ask, Are you really experiencing complete satisfaction or are you still trying to find it in something or someone else?

•  If they say they are still trying, then ask, What would it take for you to finally give it to God?

•  Listen to their response and say, May I show you what God said to some people who were in the same situation you are in?

•  If yes, show them Is 55:6-7 on the back of the card. Ask them to read it. After they read it, ask, May I ask you four questions about this Bible verse? Then follow the questions under the Non-Believer positive response below.

Non-Believer Response:

Negative Response:

• If no to the question about entering into a relationship with Jesus, then ask, Would you like to know how you can enter into a relationship with Jesus and experience the satisfied life He can give you?

• If no, say, That's ok, maybe another time. Then ask, Can I pray for you this week? Ask, Is there anything that I can pray for you about this week? Tell them you would like to pray for them right now if that's O.K. and that we have a prayer team that will pray from them every night this week.

Positive Response:

• If no to the question about entering into a relationship with Jesus, then ask, Would you like to know how you can enter into a relationship with Jesus and experience the satisfied life He can give you?

• If yes, say, May I show you what God said to some people who were in similar situations?

• If yes, show them Is 55:6-7 on the back of the card. Ask them to read it. After they read it, ask, May I ask you four questions about this Bible verse? If yes continue.

• First, What does God say you should do? Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on Him while He is near. Listen to their response. Underline the words Seek the Lord, found, call on Him and near . Affirm that God might have brought you to them to help them seek and call on Him.  Maybe your meeting is not a chance encounter, but a divine encounter. Explain that they must decide to Seek and Call on God. You must come to Him. Earlier in this chapter, God invites anyone who wants to, to come to Him. You are never too far away to come to or come back to God. So first, you must desire to come to and call on God. Ask, Is that what you want to do, to come to God to call on Him?

• Second, What does God say you must turn from? Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Listen to their response. Then ask, What do you think God means? Listen to their response and then explain that the Bible calls the wicked way that we act or think, sin. Underline the words forsake his ways and his thoughts.  Say, Notice that the wicked man follows his own ways and listens to his own thought s rather than listening to God's Word and following His ways.

Say, There are five things you need to know about sin and share each one below:

• Sin is disobeying God's guidelines (1John 3:4)

• Sin keeps us from coming to and calling on God  (Is 59:1-2)

• Sin affects everyone (Rom 3:23 )

• Sin produces spiritual death and separation from God forever (Rom 6:23 )

• One sin is all it takes to make you wicked in God's eyes (James 2:10 ) you don't have to be a mass murderer to be wicked in God's eyes. One lie, one wrong word, or one bad thought, that's enough to make you wicked!

Say, So, God is asking you to forsake a lifestyle of sin, doing your own thing and thinking whatever you want rather than doing what God says. These things bring great dishonor and displeasure to Him. Are you ready to stop living for yourself and start living for God? The great news is that you don't have to fight it alone. That leads us to the third question.

o        Third, Where does God say you must turn? Let him turn to the Lord. Ask, What do you think this means? Listen to their response. Underline the words Let him turn. Ask, Who must do the turning? Why is that hard?  Say in your own words the following: Once you have decided to get rid of your sinful lifestyle you can now turn to and trust in God. Jesus is the one you must turn to for help. He is called the Lord (Phil 2:9-11). Underline the words the Lord. Explain to them that the word means master or ruler, basically one who is in control. Either you are in control of your life or Jesus is. He is also sinless (2 Cor 5:21 ). He never broke the guidelines of God. He alone can take care of your sin and bring You into a right relationship with God. Jesus said, I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me (John14:6). Jesus is what works. Everything else you turn to will eventually fail to bring satisfaction. Jesus will. Here's how it works. You are a sinner. The payment for your sin is eternal death. You have to die or a sinless person must willingly take your death penalty, dying in your place. Jesus is sinless. He never displeased God by disobeying His guidelines.  He does not have an eternal death penalty hanging over His head. Therefore, He can die in your place taking the penalty and the full weight of your sin upon Himself, making you free from sin and able to be in a right relationship with God. So that's it. Turn to Jesus and you will be free from your sin and have access to God. But the great thing is what God will do if you turn to Him. That leads us to the last question.

o        Finally, What does it say God will do? and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. What do you think that means? Listen, then underline the words he will, mercy and freely pardon. Then say, Let me explain what I understand it to mean. In your own words express the following: First, it is a promise of God not once, but twice. It doesn't say God might or could do something, but God will do something. There is God's guarantee. He will do what He says. Second, the word mercy means not getting what you deserve. You see God's wrath or judgment means getting what you deserve, that is eternal death for your sins, but God doesn't want to give you that. He wants to give you mercy, but will not give you what you don't want.  Not only that, but God wants to give you forgiveness or pardon. God forgives and forgets. The Bible says that God's forgiveness is forever. He remembers it no more. Your sins are erased from His record (Jer. 31:34) You have a clean slate and a fresh start. Now that's satisfaction.  

Hand Illustration

Let me demonstrate: take an object (pin, coin, etc) that will fit in the palm of your hand. Say, Let's let this represent your sin. Now point to one of your hands and say, Let's let this represent you. Then point to the other hand and say, Let's let this represent Jesus.  Place the pin in the hand that represents the person, leaving the Jesus hand empty. Now ask, Who is holding your sin? They should respond, "I am". Then say, But if you turn to Jesus and believe that He died on the cross for your sin by placing your sin upon Him you will receive mercy and pardon. As you say it, place the object in the Jesus hand and ask, Now, where is your sin? They should respond, On Jesus. Then handing the sin object to them you say, Put "your sin" in the hand that represents where your sin is right now, either you are holding them or you have given them to Jesus. Affirm what they have done by saying, So right now you're holding on to your sins? Then ask, What would it take for you to turn from your sin and turn to God right Now by receiving what Jesus has done for you, placing all your sins on Him? Let them think and answer. By the Holy Spirit address any objections or concerns that they might have. Then ask, Would you like to do this right now? If so, lead them in a prayer of commitment, if not pray for them that God would help them to keep seeking Him while He is near.