Is listening to the preacher in church a good thing or bad thing?

As many times as i've gone to church. Sometimes I think that the preacher only thinks he knows what he's talking about. Isn't the preacher surposed to teach about the bible not preach to you about things out of his head.
I've found that most of the time I'm just better off not going and being judged by those at the church is better. I can read the bible or study it if I really want. But, to sit there for 30 minutes to an hour is just not worth my time.
Preachers sometimes just don't make since but, to themselves.

you dont half ask alot of questions, me head cant keep up

Depends on the preacher Rev. Hicks out of the Christ Gospel in Jeffersonville is worth seeing and listening to

i never listen to what preachers say.. they are like anyone else.. i watch what they do..

and i knew quite a few preachers, who "did it" quite well... AFTER church of course..

I'll give you a hint.

I believe most preachers are good people.

I believe they won't waste your time and sometimes share some good insight if you take the time to sit in the church.

But I also believe that some preachers are intentionally playing the villian so that you realize that some of the best answers come from inside, some very profound people can sometimes be wrong, and just because everyone thinks it right, doesn't always make it right.

Hitler's army, anyone?

I get some good things out of a really good speaker w/good points about life. It doesn't matter to me what his/her religious beliefs are.

Even before I dropped Christianity, I felt that the Bible and its teachings were better absorbed and understood through open discussion as opposed to lecture. Hearing more than one opinion and interpretation of a passage is a good thing.

Church feels like it is just for show... I have the feeling that most who go, go out of feelings of obligation to God, and to be seen, not to learn or be inspired by their religion.

Open minded discussion? Lol, the absence of that in the religion pretty much is the gist of why so many people find Christianity offensive.

Open discussion on Biblical topics... which actually does happen, just not in the church service. People attend Bible Study for that. Personally, I think Bible Study should be the norm and preaching should be phased out. Preaching does not allow a person to ask questions or explore topics in depth with the opinions of other people of their own faiths. It treats Christianity like a school subject, one that is written out, absolute, with no interpretation but one - the preacher's.

There is nothing wrong with the exclusion of discussion about other religions in a meeting meant for one particular religion. Such discussions are irrelevant and they take up time that could be spent discussing and learning about the religion of choice. If one wishes to learn about other faiths, it should be pursued in a venue that is not devoted to one faith.

Like the library. Or an online forum.

Otherwise, it is like speaking about Shakespeare at a gardening convention. Not particularly relevant or useful to those in attendance.

Possibly just like listening to anybody.

I do remember someone once saying that when some sermoniser was getting into gear, just imagine some comedian like Leslie Neilson standing behind them, pulling faces. Does wonders....

Why should the people at church judge you, are they perfect?
As for the preachers, it would fit them better to practice what they preach, speaking from experience with a priest, a canon and a minister, all talking out of their ass.

In the UK the church of England the vicars and I believe priests in the catholic church have a degree in theology and part of their training is being able to deliver words of sympathy, kindness, hope and advice. It doesn't have to come from the bible. It can come from poems or anything really, even the speakers own memories and home life. The point is that the message be a positive one.

If they talk too much crap people stop going and then they get moved elsewhere.

One mass consisted of the priest talking about 'strictly come dancing' and the way we are attracted to people and how we let them know. Obviously the communion wine was flowing freely that day, stopping short of Jesus and Mary doing the quick step.

He had probably been threatened with craggy island.

I've heard (and ignored) dozens of bizarre sermons from priests and canons over the years. One was about cricket, another about X Factor (and that was at the cathedral ) and another one that was more of a political speech that hardly had anything to do with religion (that was in Belfast, oddly enough, would have thought they'd be more religious).

I tend to tune it out though as I really don't care about what they have to say. Usually I just want to get it over with so we can sing the rest of the music and get out.