I haven’t been to a Baptist church, but have attended an Alliance Church (one OT readings and poor preaching) and a Lutheran Church — again I think it was just one reading.
Our pastor likes to print out the scriptures that will be used for the sermon. That way folks can read them without needing to flip back and forth. I prefer to flip back and forth because I like to read the verses in context. Most baptist preachers I’ve met agree with me and encourage folks to follow along and read the context around the sermon passage.
For the main passage, we stand to listen while it is read before the sermon. The pastor explains to any visitors that this is to show our respect for the Word of God, and to ask God to keep us from misunderstanding.
We’re a small church. During the evening service, anyone can raise their hand and ask questions about any specific passage mid-sermon. That works when you only have 15-20 people there...it is basically a big home Bible study conducted in the church building.
I haven’t been to a Baptist church, but have attended an Alliance Church (one OT readings and poor preaching) and a Lutheran Church — again I think it was just one reading.
Since you’re judging all Baptist churches based upon your experience with a non-Baptist “protestant” church is it fair if we judge all Catholic Priests based on the behavior of a few corrupt Catholic Priests?