Rev. Tom Hathaway - September 21, 2025
Holy Inefficiency
What if the very things we call wasteful—time spent, energy “lost,” love poured out without return—are the things that change lives? From Mark Twain’s messy genius to Jane Jacobs’ thriving city blocks to Jesus’ strange story of a shepherd who risks ninety-nine sheep for one, this sermon explores how inefficiency is not a flaw but the very soil where creativity, community, and the kingdom of God take root.
Scripture References: Luke 15:1-7
From Series: "The Lost Parables of Jesus"
The parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son are more than sweet stories about things gone missing and found again. They paint a picture of God as one who refuses to give up on us, who searches tirelessly until the overlooked is noticed and the forgotten is restored. In these parables, Jesus shows us a God who rejoices over each return, no matter how small it may seem, and insists that every single life carries immeasurable worth. They remind us that in the kingdom of God no one is disposable, and the celebration is never complete until all are gathered in.
