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The Very Good Gospel

By: Lisa Sharon Harper, Walter Brueggemann - foreword
Narrated by: Lisa Sharon Harper
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Publisher's summary

God once declared everything in the world "very good." Can you imagine it?

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 in every single human. Shalom is our calling as followers of Jesus' gospel. It is the vision God set forth in the Garden and the restoration God desires for every relationship.

What can we do to bring shalom to our nations, our communities, and our souls? Through a careful exploration of biblical text, particularly the first three chapters of Genesis, Lisa Sharon Harper shows us what "very good" can look like today, even after the Fall.

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

©2016 Lisa Sharon Harper (P)2020 Tantor
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What listeners say about The Very Good Gospel

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

This book spoke to my soul.

If ever you thought you understood what Christianity was, this book will give you a new perspective. The Very Good Gospel ties so many threads together throughout the Bible. Things that seemed random before now make sense to me. I always struggled with how the gospel of "keeping me out of hell" was compelling. Now I get how the gospel of resounding love and connection is overwhelmingly compelling. This is a must read for Christians and non-Christians alike.

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I could listen to Lisa talk about the gospel all day every day

She talks about the gospel and the way I always felt it was intended to be understood.

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Very Good inspiration

The depth, message and practical application of The Very Good Gospel brought sweet, deep peace to my soul. My broken heart feels patched up and my dominion has transformed into very good love, trust, truth, humility, forgiveness, reparations, reciprocity and embracing the other.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Can’t listen to this very good book

Such great information poorly performed by the narrator. She is way too dramatic. I feel like an elementary kid at the summer library book reading. I finally had to turn it off and buy the paper version to read. This is a great book with lots of thought provoking interests.

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Very good indeed

An excellent “read” and I can’t imagine not listening to it with Dr. Harper as the narrator. Her energy is inspiring and spirit is contagious.

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Challenge to Deeper Thinking & Biblical Learning

The book opens with a challenge to embrace what the author calls "thick faith, oppose to mere thin faith.

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The Gospel as Truly Good News

Lisa Sharon Harper does a masterful job of reexamining what the Gospel means. For those familiar with more liberal theology, these things may be familiar, but as one rooted in evangelicalism, her words brought hope and a vision of a faith that seems more like our amazing God. I don't agree with all of her biblical views, but I am grateful for this book.
And I have to add a word about her delivery - don't think you're just going to listen to a book - you're going to CHURCH, in the best possible way! So powerful!!

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A very good book

Wow. Can I just say it again: Wow. This book was written before 2020 and the world upheaval that humankind is experiencing; yet these same issues Lisa Sharon Harper tackles head on have been going on since The Beginning. Going back to Genesis chapter one, Harper methodically and intelligently explains what God's idea of Creation and Brotherhood and Peace amongst all creation really meant then, how humanity has evolved away from it and what it means to return to it today. My heart and outlook and mindset are changed forever; I highly recommend this book. To everyone.

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