Are Christians supposed to be missional? What does it mean to be missional?

TL;DR:

Being "missional" means living intentionally for Christ. Living missionally often involves sharing the gospel in a culture where people do not know or live for Christ.

Yes, Christians are called to live missionally, meaning they intentionally live to share the gospel and glorify God in everyday life. This kind of lifestyle reflects Jesus’ own incarnation—coming into the world to reach people where they are. Biblical examples like Joseph, Esther, Daniel, and Paul show how God's people can faithfully serve Him in cultures that don't acknowledge Him. Being missional today means viewing our work, relationships, and routines as platforms for ministry and pointing others to Christ. It's less about location and more about living purposefully wherever we are, letting our words and actions reflect the love and truth of Jesus.

from the old testament

Writers of missional-based books have often referenced biblical characters as examples of living the missional lifestyle. A popular one used is Joseph (Genesis 37-50) because he lived a godly life among pagan Egypt and had a powerful influence on those around him.
Esther is also often used as an example of someone who lived with a missional mindset, because she used her godly influence to save the lives of God's people despite risking her own life in the process (Esther 1-10).
Daniel is another example of being a missional-minded person because he (and his friends) served God within a pagan context to bring glory to God (Daniel 1-12).

from the new testament

A common theme in missional writings is the incarnation of Jesus. Just as Jesus left His heavenly home to live among those He served, we as His followers are also to go to those in need of Christ and live out an incarnational lifestyle of ministry and service (John 1:1-4). In the same way a cross-culture missionary seeks to adapt to the culture in which they spread the gospel, the missional Christian seeks to share Christ within a particular cultural mindset to better impact lives.
A New Testament biblical character that missional authors like to reference is the apostle Paul because he taught God's truth among the pagan Greeks in Athens from (in their terms) a missional perspective (Acts 17).

implications for today

Yes, believers are called to be missional. Living missionally means we see every part of our lives—work, school, neighborhoods, and relationships—as opportunities to reflect Christ and share His love. It’s not just about going on overseas mission trips but about living with purpose and intention right where we are. As Christians, we’re called to live differently—to serve others, speak truth with grace, and embody the gospel through our actions and words. That might look like encouraging a coworker, inviting a neighbor to church, praying for someone in need, or simply showing patience when it's hard. When we live missionally, we become part of God’s plan to reach the world, starting with the people around us.

understand

Being missional means living intentionally to share the gospel and glorify God.
The incarnation of Jesus models going into the world to serve and save the lost.
Christians are supposed to be missional-minded, meaning they live out their faith wherever they are.

reflect

How are you intentionally living out your faith in the culture around you, especially among those who do not know Christ?
How do you view and respond to everyday life opportunities to glorify God and share the gospel?
What does it mean to you to live missionally?

engage

How does the incarnation of Jesus shape our understanding of what it means to live missionally today?
What are the potential dangers of aligning too closely with the modern “missional movement,” and how can we stay grounded in biblical truth while living missionally?
What examples from Scripture help us develop living missionally in a culture that is often indifferent or hostile toward the gospel?