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The Very Good Gospel




Download Chapter 1Listen to Chapter 1

God once declared everything in the world “very good”. Imagine.

A Vision of Hope for a Broken World

Shalom is what God declared. Shalom is what the Kingdom of God looks like.
Shalom is when all people have enough.
It’s when families are healed.
It’s when churches, schools, and public policies protect human dignity.
Shalom is when the image of God is recognized, protected and cultivated in every single human.
Shalom is our calling as followers of Jesus’s gospel. It is the vision God set forth in the Garden and the restoration God desires for every broken relationship.
Shalom is what our souls long for.
Shalom is the “very good” in the gospel.

What can we do to build shalom between nations, in our communities, and in our own lives? Through a careful exploration of biblical text, particularly the first three chapters of Genesis, in The Very Good Gospel Lisa Sharon Harper shows us what “very good” can look like today—in real time.

Because despite our anxious minds, despite division and threats of violence, God’s vision remains: Wholeness for a fragmented world. Peace for a hurting soul. Shalom.

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Endorsements

“This is a welcome read that invites a rethinking of faith and life that is much too much dumbed down to thin. Our preoccupation with “diet and exercise” might be good for thinning our bodies to health. But such thinning of faith is a recipe for chaos and death. Harper witnesses to the otherwise of a saving transformative, reconciling faith that is indeed “very good.”

Walter Brueggemann
Columbia Theological Seminary


“Lisa Sharon Harper has presented the Gospel, the good news, as it was meant to be— whole and complete. Our world has compromised so many elements of the good news that we are left with a divided Gospel. We need to recover the whole Christian Gospel, the wholeness of the church, the wholeness of relationships. Lisa has unleashed the whole-ism of shalom. Her application of the good news for America, for our culture, in the world, reminds us that God is bigger than our problems. My wish is that Christians, and non-Christians alike, read this book.”

Dr. John Perkins
Co-founder of the Christian Community Development Association, founder of the John and Vera Perkins Foundation in Jackson, Mississippi and author of Let Justice Roll Down


“Lisa Sharon Harper is so smart and interesting—she’s a wonderful leader. I respect her immensely and am passionate about the message of this book.”

Jen Hatmaker
speaker and best-selling author of For the Love


“One can scan across the landscape of the church and not find a better articulator of the essence of the Gospel in the 21st century. Lisa Sharon Harper follows a rich tradition of reformers and iconoclast theological practitioners who deeply love the Gospel and God’s people. She has made it her life’s project to challenge lethargic and cynical people to live love and practice justice. Our world is richer and more vibrant because of her compassionate and strong voice.”

Reverend Dr. Otis Moss III
Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ and author of Blue Note Preaching in a Post-Soul World

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lisasharper
Yes! We need to talk. Over the last few months Bl Yes! We need to talk.

Over the last few months Black people, asylum seeking people, young people, queer people and trans people and women people—all of these people made in God’s image have endured and absorbed unending assaults against their ability to flourish in Florida. It has felt like a steady stream of punches coming from deranged bullies. It has been stunning—terrorizing—haunting. 

Then, today Social Studies text book publishers revealed that they are taking out all mentions of race from their textbooks—even from the story of Rosa Parks. 😵

This is not a culture war. This is a war against the image of God on earth. 

We MUST talk about Florida’s war on God—now. 

THIS FRIDAY, 7pm ET
@lisasharper #iglive

#kitchentableconversations #kitchentableconvo #culturewar #imageofgod
Don’t miss this #kitchentableconvo with Jamila H Don’t miss this #kitchentableconvo with Jamila Hodge @equaljusticeusa! 

We’re rethinking #communitysafety

TONIGHT at 7pm ET 👊🏽
Going live with @oguyo.consulting this Weds mornin Going live with @oguyo.consulting this Weds morning at 8:15am eastern! It’s going to be a chat you don’t wanna miss!!
Join me {Lisa} and ISP next Thursday! ISP will be Join me {Lisa} and ISP next Thursday!

ISP will be kicking off its 25th Anniversary celebration at this year’s event!  We’re welcoming a slate of special guests and storytellers including theologian Lisa Sharon Harper, memoirist Mary Karr, author Fr James Martin, SJ, ISP alumni, and more!  Join in for an inspiring evening as we experience the transformative power of sharing our sacred stories.

Register here: https://ispretreats.org/cog/

#storytelling #powerofstories #ignatianspirituality #ignatianspiritualityproject
Don’t miss this. #kitchentableconvo with @chri Don’t miss this. 

#kitchentableconvo with @christenacleveland 

on How BlackWomanGod Changes Everything

Tonight, 7pm ET 
IGLive @lisasharper 

#blackhistorymonth
Holy God, Please be with President Carter in his 1 Holy God, Please be with President Carter in his 11th hour. Be with him close. Be with his family. Be with his friends and colleagues. 

In this hour, while President Carter is still with us, we thank him for his service to our nation and to the ones Jesus called “the least of these” throughout the world. 

And Thank you, sir, for your Bible studies. The Word of God in your Baptist heart led you to protect the separation of church and state, to champion the dignity and empowerment of women, and to empower the impoverished. 

Your faithfulness to the peaceable kin-dom of God led you to show us glimpses of possible peace in the Middle East through the Camp David Accords. And to condemn the modern-day colonization of the Palestinian people. 

It has been a joy and an honor to work with your team @thecartercenter. They carry your work forward, sir. They carry it well. 

Thank you for your witness, dear brother. Thank you. 

Well done.

((Deep bow))

#jimmycarter

📷 BETTMANN//GETTY IMAGES
In the context of… Florida governor #desantis ba In the context of…
Florida governor #desantis banning AP African American Studies from Florida’s public schools

College Board dropping several seminal Black authors from their curriculum 

Several criminal and civil court cases coming to a head against the former president of the US and his aids. Presenting proof of conspiracy to defraud Americans by stealing the 2020 election

And in the context of several recent studies and polls revealing white evangelicals are more loyal to their whiteness than to Jesus. 

In this context, Asbury University is experiencing what some have characterized “a revival.” 

So, what’s going on?

Let’s talk about how we can discern if it’s revival or … something else. 

#kitchentableconvo tonight 7pm ET @lisasharper
Just a moment in the sun. #sunset #sunsetphotogr Just a moment in the sun. 

#sunset #sunsetphotography #southphillysunset #southphilly #curls #goodhairday #silverstreak #zurista  #justonedress
San Francisco, I’m back! Woohoo!! Can’t wait t San Francisco, I’m back! Woohoo!! Can’t wait to see you at Calvary Presbyterian Church tomorrow (Saturday) at 3pm PT! 

I’m looking forward to reading | performing portions of Fortune for you! Plus join our conversation about how to repair what race broke in our world!

#fortunebook #blackhistorymonth #truthtelling #repair
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The Very Good Gospel on Audible

https://lisasharonharper.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/M4291_VeryGood_2.mp4

 

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