THE LANDMARK SERMON
A clear word at the right time can keep the church from getting separated.
Jack Hayford
January 1, 1993
When a church is in conflict, a pastor's sermons loom large, helping to define the issues. Even in peacetime, some sermons about sensitive topics are guaranteed to cause a stir. Jack Hayford has preached his share of landmark sermons and has learned how to approach them. This article is excerpted from the book Who's in Charge? coauthored by Leith Anderson, Jack Hayford, and Ben Patterson. This is the first in a new series of books, Mastering Ministry's Pressure Points, copublished by LEADERSHIP and Multnomah Press. Whatever a pastor's position on wine drinking, it's not hard to marshal proof texts. And it's for sure some people will disagree with whatever conclusion you come to. Despite the disagreement I knew we'd uncover, several years ago I faced the need to deal directly with this subject with our "Servants Council," a group of several hundred key people in our congregation. As I wrestled with the issue in my study, I felt the internal pressure of being responsible for these leaders and their influence on our whole congregation. They needed a shepherd-like spirit instilled in them for rightly guiding all whom they taught and touched. This had to be explained in a loving way, rather than legalistically. My heart whispered, You better help them see this clearly. Most of our people are going to decide what's right and wrong based on what you say and how you act. I also was concerned with external pressure, about the larger Christian community, that others might pass judgment on me. I could hear some saying, "Hayford is soft on drinking" (for not declaring a teetotaling stance) or "Hayford is a legalist" (because I concerned myself with the issue). Strong leaders are known for their landmark sermons (and sometimes lynched for ...
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