Be The Church

Be the Church. We the Church. Me the Church.

What does it really mean to be the Church?

In the summer of 2023, Bethlehem Temple Missionary Baptist Church gathered in person once again-and what began as a return to worship became a bold call to action. In this powerful and practical series, Pastor Jeffery Smith challenges believers to move beyond the pews and live out their faith as the ecclesia-the called-out ones-shining light in a dark world.

Through passionate preaching and real-world reflection, Be the Church inspires both leaders and laypeople to ask: Is me that Church? This book is more than a collection of sermons-it's an invitation to transformation. With every chapter, readers are urged to take the next step beyond affirmation-to application, accountability, and action.

Whether you're a pastor, teacher, or faithful member of the body of Christ, this book will ignite your purpose, sharpen your spiritual focus, and remind you of your essential role in the Church's mission.

It's time to rise. It's time to represent. It's time to be the Church.

About the Author

Rev. Jeffery Smith is the Senior Pastor of Bethlehem Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, continuing the legacy of his father, Rev. Dr. J. C. Smith. A passionate preacher, teacher, and servant-leader, Rev. Smith brings together decades of ministry experience and a background in corporate leadership, having served as Global Associate Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Procter & Gamble. His life's work spans the pulpit, the boardroom, and the community, where he remains committed to spiritual growth, social justice, and family. He lives in the South Suburbs of Chicago with his wife, Heather, and their four children.