Are all Christians called to be missionaries and/or do the work of missionaries?

We’re all called to serve Jesus Christ. The word “missionary” just means somebody who is sent. And we’re all sent, we’re all drawn into Christ and we’re sent out by Christ to live in the world as witnesses to Christ. In that sense, wherever God places us we are sent by Him with the gospel.

If there is a broader question, then that’s the question of, “Where do we do that and in what context do we do that?”

Now that’s a question that someone would need to talk through with their elders or with their minister. But the central thing is that wherever we are, wherever God places us, He’s sending us into the world to serve Him and to bear witness to Him. We do that with all of the gifts He’s given to us. And we do that also—and I think this is important—as part of the fellowship of the church. So we’re not lone-wolf missionaries.

This transcript is from a live Ask Ligonier event with Sinclair Ferguson and has been lightly edited for readability. To ask Ligonier a biblical or theological question, email ask@ligonier.org or message us on Facebook or Twitter.