How connected are you to the life of your local church right now?

And how has a global pandemic and polarized political climate affected that connection?

On so many fronts, the evangelical church is facing a unique season of difficulty and division.

What would it look like to rediscover God's vision for the local church

and strive toward unity? In today's episode, I'm talking with Jonathan Lehman about the vital

importance of staying actively connected to a local church, especially after a year like 2020.

Jonathan is the editorial director at Nine Marks in Washington, D.C.,

and the co-author with Colin Hanson of Rediscover Church, Why the Body of Christ is Essential

from Crossway. Let's get started.

Well, Jonathan, thank you so much for joining me today on the Crossway podcast.

Thank you, Matt.

Yeah, it's good to have you back on the show. You've been on the show a couple times now.

And today we're going to talk about a new book that you've co-written with Colin Hanson.

Many people will know Colin Hanson from the Gospel Coalition. You work primarily with Nine

Marks. I'm wondering if you

could just share a little bit how. Why isn't Colin here? What's Colin's deal? Last I heard he was

in some cabin or something somewhere trying to get away for something about a sabbatical. That's right.

I think he works pretty hard

but how did you and how did you and colin get together and decide to write this book you guys don't

live near each other you're not part of the same ministry and yet you decided to write a book together

Colin and i are old friends we we've been hanging out and talking for a long time about lots of stuff.

You know how you have different relationships that you're in constant text streams with people?

...