Questions to focus on: The Gray Matrix

These questions can be used at different levels. You can take 30 seconds to think about one or two. You can discuss them in a team or group of like-minded Christians. Or they can be used in a college class, including assignments and research projects, and answered in writing at any depth. They may be freely reproduced for this purpose. Please email us additional questions that could be added to this page.
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  1. Suggest a position on the Gray Matrix for specific groupings of people, or a particular person known to you.
  2. Why is the axis of antagonism/enthusiasm such an important overlay to the Engel Scale?
  3. Why do so few models of evangelism reach down far into the left-hand corner of the Matrix?
  4. Discuss examples of different types of servant evangelism which move people from left to right on the Matrix.
  5. Research examples of evangelism in missiological and church history, where the initial breakthrough was the result in a loss of antagonism/increase in enthusiasm for Christianity. Are there common factors in these spiritual movements?
  6. Set the Matrix in a scriptural framework, with Bible passages which:
    • highlight the forces pulling people up and down (or right/left) on the Matrix.
    • tell the story of a spiritual journey to commitment, which could be visually demonstrated as a pathway through the Matrix.
  7. Review some evangelistic tracts, videos, and websites. How far towards the bottom left-hand corner of the Matrix are they effectively targeting? How could they be modified to be more effective?
  8. Discuss the potential of 'felt needs' evangelism in relation to the Gray Matrix.
  9. How does the Enemy use peer pressure to move people to the left-hand side of the Matrix?
  10. Discuss the significance of well-known Christian role-models in public life (for instance in the world of sport and entertainment) and how they have the potential to move people to the right-hand side of the Matrix.