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Brief Books #4
How to Walk into Church
If you've been a churchgoer for more than just a few Sundays, walking to church probably doesn't seem like it deserves its own 'how to' manual. Right? In fact, it most likely seems like a pretty straightforward and trivial weekly activity.
But things are rarely as simple as they seem, and how you walk into church reveals a great deal about what you think church is, what it's for, and what you think you're doing there.
In How to Walk into Church, Tony Payne helps us think biblically about church. Along with giving plenty of other practical advice, he suggests a way to walk into church that beautifully expresses what church is and why you're there - a way that every Christian can master.
If you go to church, this Brief Book is for you.
But things are rarely as simple as they seem, and how you walk into church reveals a great deal about what you think church is, what it's for, and what you think you're doing there.
In How to Walk into Church, Tony Payne helps us think biblically about church. Along with giving plenty of other practical advice, he suggests a way to walk into church that beautifully expresses what church is and why you're there - a way that every Christian can master.
If you go to church, this Brief Book is for you.
64 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2015
37 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Tony Payne
77 books22 followersTony Payne began work as Matthias Media’s first editor in 1988. Since then, Tony has been a busy guy: with his wife, Alison, he has grown a family of five children; he has completed a degree in theology at Moore Theological College; and he has written or co-written numerous ministry resources, and edited many others. Tony’s main responsibilities are to oversee everything we publish (including The Briefing), and to get as much writing done as possible.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
March 14, 2016
Most of my church is under thirty years old. They are not going to pick up a 300 page book on a topic. Therefore, I am constantly trying to find short reads that will help them understand better God, Christ, the Spirit, and the church. This book does a great job of giving clear reasons why someone should go to church, what they should do when they get there, and when they leave. It is not a guilt trip, but rather a practical and encouraging book on the glories and benefits of belonging to and participating in the body of Christ. One of my friends suggested it for new members and it is perfect for that. But it is also good for long time members who might have forgotten the reasons they attend.
July 14, 2022
A great little book, would highly recommend a read! It’s pretty short and intends to give a brief overview of what walking into church is all about. Ultimately it concludes, to love and to serve, the book call out for members of church to be intentional, welcoming and aware. Not to stumble in lazily and run out the door quickly.
A refreshing reminder and a good book to reposition the heart that loves to make excuses.
A refreshing reminder and a good book to reposition the heart that loves to make excuses.
May 30, 2016
I would call this 64 pages of "just what I needed to read." An incredibly short book (it didn't even take me an hour to finish), but oh, how much it got hold of me in that brief time! Payne boils his main idea down to one statement: we should pray each week about where we sit in church. However, the book's not simply trying to say "Change where you sit each week in church, and the results will be life-changing." It's really trying to emphasize the church as community and family, the mindset involved with that, and practical ways we can truly (not superficially) minister to one another when we assemble together.
As an American (born and raised in an individualistic culture), Northerner (often closed-off and treasuring privacy), and introvert (loving to "recharge" through alone time), this book greatly resonated with and convicted me. To "walk into church" each week as Payne describes--which includes things like praying for specific opportunities to edify someone and actively thinking about how to stir up others to love and good works--does not come naturally to me. If we're being honest, it doesn't come naturally to most (otherwise, why would this book even exist?). In fact, it's incredibly difficult! But the Bible makes it clear that God doesn't intend us to live out our Christian lives in isolation. The church is a family. Assembling together for worship is part of God's design. We need one another. We have to get our eyes off ourselves and onto our brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, we need to know "how to walk into church" every week.
Immensely thought-provoking book, with real-life ramifications for those willing to listen and act. Read it and encourage others to do the same!
As an American (born and raised in an individualistic culture), Northerner (often closed-off and treasuring privacy), and introvert (loving to "recharge" through alone time), this book greatly resonated with and convicted me. To "walk into church" each week as Payne describes--which includes things like praying for specific opportunities to edify someone and actively thinking about how to stir up others to love and good works--does not come naturally to me. If we're being honest, it doesn't come naturally to most (otherwise, why would this book even exist?). In fact, it's incredibly difficult! But the Bible makes it clear that God doesn't intend us to live out our Christian lives in isolation. The church is a family. Assembling together for worship is part of God's design. We need one another. We have to get our eyes off ourselves and onto our brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, we need to know "how to walk into church" every week.
Immensely thought-provoking book, with real-life ramifications for those willing to listen and act. Read it and encourage others to do the same!
July 27, 2017
For a small treatment of what the church is, and is called to do in gathered worship, this little book packs serious punch. I'm giving it out to everybody...
Finished again on 7/26/17. Such a helpful little book. Worth many reads.
Finished again on 7/26/17. Such a helpful little book. Worth many reads.
April 22, 2017
Would love for lots of people to read this short book.
November 9, 2019
Quick, easy read with some good reminders.
May 28, 2016
Excellent (and very short) book to change perspectives on what we're doing as a part of church and why we gather weekly.
September 15, 2018
Excellent! Tony Payne has given me the words for something that I’ve been thinking about for a while now. He makes the case that ‘going to church’ begins long before you actually put on your clothes and walk out of the door. Likewise, being in church is more than listening to he sermon for that day. Highly recommended.
December 1, 2017
This little book could be summed up by saying that everything we do “at church“ (beginning with choosing where to sit) should be done conscientiously through prayer, and not thoughtlessly or as a mindless habit.
January 21, 2019
Fast, easy read.
May 23, 2023
I highly recommend! So helpful with adjusting my mindset towards how to attend church (especially when I’m tempted to not go). Exactly what I needed to hear.
October 17, 2016
A very short, excellent exhortation to be intentional and Biblical in how we walk into church each Sunday. Very encouraging and convicting book that truly stirs up the heart to love and good works!
September 17, 2017
Read full review at LeadershipResources.org or buy on Amazon.
How do you walk into church?
This question doesn’t seek to address your walking style, how many kids’ noses you are wiping as you cross your church’s threshold, or how you have on your “Sunday best.”
What author Tony Payne is getting at in his brief 64-page book How to Walk into Church are core issues like “What is church?” and “What is my place in it?” (10). Our answers to these two questions form a mindset that will govern all of our conversations and activities in church; from greeting the greeter—to choosing a pew—to conversations scattered throughout your time on Sunday morning—to what we do before and after attending a church service.
One of the lies Payne seeks to shatter in this short and accessible book is that ministry is for paid church staff and not the everyday attender. This book is a practical guide to how every church attender can minister on Sunday mornings (or whenever their church gathers). Chapters include what church is, our role in church, the before, during, and after of church attendance, and how church doesn’t ever “end” (among other chapters).
As is so often the case, Tony Payne makes his vision painfully easy to implement by sharing practical tips we can all put into practice. Here are a few examples:
Payne recommends to pray about where to sit as you walk into church, which shows we are “trusting that what we do at church really matters; that God has something important for us to do—in particular, someone he wants us to sit next to, talk with, listen to, pray for and encourage.” (13)
When you meet a new person, look for them in future weeks and seek to reconnect and help them get plugged in. (49)
After church, encourage those around you with the Biblical truth presented earlier that day. (See Colossians 3:16) (52-53)
Before you enter church, pray that God would use you to encourage people that day, and pray throughout your day for opportunities. (53)
Be a good host to newcomers by listening to their story, introducing them around, or inviting them to a meal. (55)
Payne clearly and succinctly lays out a biblical vision of church that has personal growth in Christ and disciple making at the forefront. This book takes the DNA of the mindshift presented in The Trellis and the Vine and boils it down specifically for church goers and their Sunday morning experience.
You can use this book in a variety of ways. First of all, every church-goer would benefit reading it for reasons stated above. Because of that, many pastors will find it helpful as they seek to train up leaders who can minister by prayerfully speaking the Word of God to others on Sunday morning and throughout the week, especially if they have a ministry team looking to care for people and welcome new attendees. Small groups will find this a fruitful discussion starter to encourage members toward a greater vision of their individual parts in “every member ministry.” This is also a valuable book for pastors to give to new members.
After readers get a greater sense of what church is and their place in it by reading How to Walk into Church, I imagine that many will never walk into church the same way again.
How do you walk into church?
This question doesn’t seek to address your walking style, how many kids’ noses you are wiping as you cross your church’s threshold, or how you have on your “Sunday best.”
What author Tony Payne is getting at in his brief 64-page book How to Walk into Church are core issues like “What is church?” and “What is my place in it?” (10). Our answers to these two questions form a mindset that will govern all of our conversations and activities in church; from greeting the greeter—to choosing a pew—to conversations scattered throughout your time on Sunday morning—to what we do before and after attending a church service.
One of the lies Payne seeks to shatter in this short and accessible book is that ministry is for paid church staff and not the everyday attender. This book is a practical guide to how every church attender can minister on Sunday mornings (or whenever their church gathers). Chapters include what church is, our role in church, the before, during, and after of church attendance, and how church doesn’t ever “end” (among other chapters).
As is so often the case, Tony Payne makes his vision painfully easy to implement by sharing practical tips we can all put into practice. Here are a few examples:
Payne recommends to pray about where to sit as you walk into church, which shows we are “trusting that what we do at church really matters; that God has something important for us to do—in particular, someone he wants us to sit next to, talk with, listen to, pray for and encourage.” (13)
When you meet a new person, look for them in future weeks and seek to reconnect and help them get plugged in. (49)
After church, encourage those around you with the Biblical truth presented earlier that day. (See Colossians 3:16) (52-53)
Before you enter church, pray that God would use you to encourage people that day, and pray throughout your day for opportunities. (53)
Be a good host to newcomers by listening to their story, introducing them around, or inviting them to a meal. (55)
Payne clearly and succinctly lays out a biblical vision of church that has personal growth in Christ and disciple making at the forefront. This book takes the DNA of the mindshift presented in The Trellis and the Vine and boils it down specifically for church goers and their Sunday morning experience.
You can use this book in a variety of ways. First of all, every church-goer would benefit reading it for reasons stated above. Because of that, many pastors will find it helpful as they seek to train up leaders who can minister by prayerfully speaking the Word of God to others on Sunday morning and throughout the week, especially if they have a ministry team looking to care for people and welcome new attendees. Small groups will find this a fruitful discussion starter to encourage members toward a greater vision of their individual parts in “every member ministry.” This is also a valuable book for pastors to give to new members.
After readers get a greater sense of what church is and their place in it by reading How to Walk into Church, I imagine that many will never walk into church the same way again.
November 25, 2015
Written for the average church-goer, Payne gives biblical and practical advice on keeping church attendance an act of deliberate discipleship.
What is church?
Why go?
What should I be thinking about when I go?
I'll give away the main idea: we should go to church expecting to help someone else with our encouraging words, loving presence or acts of service.
Payne does a good job in 64 short pages keeping church God-oriented, while also asserting this main idea. It is a practical and edifying challenge for both new and seasoned believers.
What is church?
Why go?
What should I be thinking about when I go?
I'll give away the main idea: we should go to church expecting to help someone else with our encouraging words, loving presence or acts of service.
Payne does a good job in 64 short pages keeping church God-oriented, while also asserting this main idea. It is a practical and edifying challenge for both new and seasoned believers.
February 25, 2016
So much wisdom packed into a few short chapters. The strength of this book is not that it is new or groundbreaking, but that it is clear, accessible, and practical. If you wonder why you go to church, or if you struggle to feel connected with the church you attend, this book will serve you well, explaining why and how going to church can be so much more than going through the motions. This would be a great resource to give to new members as an introduction to the first steps of what it means to be part of a church.
August 6, 2016
A helpful little 64-page book reminding (or exhorting) us that church is not just about the sermon or what we get out of it. As Payne points out, our individual "vertical" experience with God is only half the reason for church and we must not neglect the "horizontal" aspect, searching out “opportunities to encourage and love and build up other people” (p. 52), that is, fellowshipping with our church family. Payne helps the reader think through why we go to church and the manner in which we should approach it before, during, and after.
August 10, 2015
Very helpful. There's a lot in this readable little book (64 pages, ~$5). It's a super practical book about how Christians should act in church Sunday by Sunday -- preparing to come, during church, and afterwards -- all based on bible passages and well-explained theology. Any church attender would be encouraged by reading it, and would take away some specific things to do. There's also a very good couple of pages near the end on the danger of drifting away from church.
January 16, 2018
I appreciate this little book for the its encouragement to really understand and walk by the principles that God has given about how Christians "do" church. The author writes, "How you walk into church will be determined by what you think church is, and what you think you're doing there."
The author gives a quick, but great foundation for how the church came to be and why, based on that, we should seek to fulfill God's purposes and not our own. He writes that "We can make our way through church with a true and wise understanding of just what church is, what it really happening there, and what the situation demands of us. Or we can stumble along not really knowing why we are there or what we are doing."
He makes the argument that since church is where so much of what is essential happens, that we should be pursuing a right mindset before, during and after our time spent with other believers and that that will not only equip us to be more effective at church, but in the rest of our Christian walk ("we should walk out of our local churches encouraged and stirred up to love and good works, ready to live for Christ and speak for Christ in every facet and sphere of our lives").
This is a really quick read. It's a great primer for people who may have never understood church to be more than an obligation or club, and it's a great refresher for anyone who ever struggles to remember that God has orchestrated the church "and even though that family is often hard to live with, and is full of sinful people just like us...well, they're still family, and we still have the obligation and privilege to love and serve them (and we still need them to do the same for us)."
Some of my favorite points:
1. "We need to come to church each week as grateful, loving, other-person oriented members of God's people, read not only to encounter God and respond to him, but to encounter our brothers and sisters and love them as well." The author encourages the readers to be praying about where to sit...something we usually take for granted each week.
2. "Church is not a kind of trade-off between the 'vertical' and the 'horizontal' - between the 'vertical' actions of encountering God and the 'horizontal' activities of talking with and encouraging each other. You cannot separate the two. In fact, it is often very hard to figure out which parts of our church life are 'vertical' and which 'horizontal'...What we do in church is a constant interplay between encountering God and encountering people."
3. If we begin to grasp this, we won't see the informal coffee time as an awkward social time to escape from, nor as a chance to simply catch up on the latest with our friends. We will see it for what it is: a place where God is still present in the midst of us, leading us to love and encourage one another through this world."
4. We need to be in prayer about what happens while we're together. "Since God is in charge of church (as he is in charge of everything), he is the one to go to if we want our time at church to be fruitful and encouraging and God-glorifying - not only for ourselves but also for our whole church family."
5. "One of the most important acts of love and encouragement we can all engage in is the powerful encouragement of just being there - because every time I walk into church, I am wearing a metaphorical t-shirt that says, 'God is important to me, and you are important to me. And on the back it says, 'And that's why I would dream of missing this.'"
6. "The most basic reason we got to church is simply that we belong together around God."
"We're walking into a gathering that God himself has called together, as part of his majestic plan to save and gather his people around the Lord Jesus Christ. We're walking into outpost or foretaste of the great spiritual, heavenly assembly of the people of God."
7. "So this is God's majestic purpose in Christ: to save and redeem and gather around himself a people from every nation, to give them confident access to his own presence, and one day to reveal that mighty assembly of his people in the new creation. In other words, God's purpose in Christ is to build his church."
8. "God's extraordinary purpose in Christ was not just to save you and me through the once-for-all work of Christ, but also to save and gather a great congregation of people for himself. To put it another way, when we stand forgiven before God through the work of Christ, we don't stand alone. As we enter God's presence with confidence, we find ourselves in a vast company of forgiven sinners, just like us, who have been cleansed and justified through the blood of Jesus. There's a whole family of us who can now draw near to God with dumbfounded joy on our faces and the name of Jesus on our lips."
9. Instead of hoping that church "will repay the investment we are making by being here on Sunday morning instead of sleeping in," We acknowledge that "God is in charge of every aspect of church, and that our ideas and preferences and dreams about what church should be like come a distant second."..."We're also putting ourselves in the right frame of mind towards each other. We have started to think about church as being about someone other than me."
There's a lot of great stuff packed in this little book. Our churches would be different places if we could all work toward rooting this truth in our hearts...starting with me!
The author gives a quick, but great foundation for how the church came to be and why, based on that, we should seek to fulfill God's purposes and not our own. He writes that "We can make our way through church with a true and wise understanding of just what church is, what it really happening there, and what the situation demands of us. Or we can stumble along not really knowing why we are there or what we are doing."
He makes the argument that since church is where so much of what is essential happens, that we should be pursuing a right mindset before, during and after our time spent with other believers and that that will not only equip us to be more effective at church, but in the rest of our Christian walk ("we should walk out of our local churches encouraged and stirred up to love and good works, ready to live for Christ and speak for Christ in every facet and sphere of our lives").
This is a really quick read. It's a great primer for people who may have never understood church to be more than an obligation or club, and it's a great refresher for anyone who ever struggles to remember that God has orchestrated the church "and even though that family is often hard to live with, and is full of sinful people just like us...well, they're still family, and we still have the obligation and privilege to love and serve them (and we still need them to do the same for us)."
Some of my favorite points:
1. "We need to come to church each week as grateful, loving, other-person oriented members of God's people, read not only to encounter God and respond to him, but to encounter our brothers and sisters and love them as well." The author encourages the readers to be praying about where to sit...something we usually take for granted each week.
2. "Church is not a kind of trade-off between the 'vertical' and the 'horizontal' - between the 'vertical' actions of encountering God and the 'horizontal' activities of talking with and encouraging each other. You cannot separate the two. In fact, it is often very hard to figure out which parts of our church life are 'vertical' and which 'horizontal'...What we do in church is a constant interplay between encountering God and encountering people."
3. If we begin to grasp this, we won't see the informal coffee time as an awkward social time to escape from, nor as a chance to simply catch up on the latest with our friends. We will see it for what it is: a place where God is still present in the midst of us, leading us to love and encourage one another through this world."
4. We need to be in prayer about what happens while we're together. "Since God is in charge of church (as he is in charge of everything), he is the one to go to if we want our time at church to be fruitful and encouraging and God-glorifying - not only for ourselves but also for our whole church family."
5. "One of the most important acts of love and encouragement we can all engage in is the powerful encouragement of just being there - because every time I walk into church, I am wearing a metaphorical t-shirt that says, 'God is important to me, and you are important to me. And on the back it says, 'And that's why I would dream of missing this.'"
6. "The most basic reason we got to church is simply that we belong together around God."
"We're walking into a gathering that God himself has called together, as part of his majestic plan to save and gather his people around the Lord Jesus Christ. We're walking into outpost or foretaste of the great spiritual, heavenly assembly of the people of God."
7. "So this is God's majestic purpose in Christ: to save and redeem and gather around himself a people from every nation, to give them confident access to his own presence, and one day to reveal that mighty assembly of his people in the new creation. In other words, God's purpose in Christ is to build his church."
8. "God's extraordinary purpose in Christ was not just to save you and me through the once-for-all work of Christ, but also to save and gather a great congregation of people for himself. To put it another way, when we stand forgiven before God through the work of Christ, we don't stand alone. As we enter God's presence with confidence, we find ourselves in a vast company of forgiven sinners, just like us, who have been cleansed and justified through the blood of Jesus. There's a whole family of us who can now draw near to God with dumbfounded joy on our faces and the name of Jesus on our lips."
9. Instead of hoping that church "will repay the investment we are making by being here on Sunday morning instead of sleeping in," We acknowledge that "God is in charge of every aspect of church, and that our ideas and preferences and dreams about what church should be like come a distant second."..."We're also putting ourselves in the right frame of mind towards each other. We have started to think about church as being about someone other than me."
There's a lot of great stuff packed in this little book. Our churches would be different places if we could all work toward rooting this truth in our hearts...starting with me!
August 26, 2015
I seriously bought a case of 25 of these and gave them all away because I thought it was so helpful. No joke. Too many people in our culture think the church exists for their convenience, entertainment, and that's it.
January 19, 2016
A thoughtful, brief account of not only what the church is, but how that plays out in practical living. Nothing overall surprising here, but a couple of good restatements/definitions/questions to be asking that I had not articulated before.
February 7, 2016
A great reminder of what church should be and how we are to love God, love people, serve others, and tell everyone. Good, practical advice on what to do and how to love, encourage, and build up others in the faith.
December 14, 2015
Small, simple, and very helpful.
January 1, 2016
So good, and short, that it's worth reading slowly. Very slowly, with prayer and with dedication to put it into practice.
May 15, 2016
Quick read with some great concepts. Anyone (whether you like to read or not) could easily read this and profit from it.
October 25, 2016
Simple book, but would be good for a sermon series.
April 28, 2016
pretty basic stuff, but worth a reminder.
March 19, 2020
My thoughts in a review here:
With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe, resulting in unprecedented closures and cancellations of church gatherings, it might seem pointless to read the book How to Walk into Church anytime soon. After all, fewer people are actually walking into church buildings during this pandemic than has ever been the case in our lifetimes.
Yet, it may be that in this societal moment when believers are not gathering together as usual, that the message of How to Walk into Church is more needed than ever. The act of entering a church building, which is often taken for granted, is on the collective forefront of our minds. Additionally, Lord willing, we will be walking back into church buildings soon and this is an opportunity from the sidelines to alter our habits once the ballgame resumes. Further, with many churches wisely making use of livestreaming capabilities during the pandemic, it’s critical that churches proclaim the necessity of the regular gathering of the saints, lest people continue to substitute livestreaming for church in a post-pandemic world.
Tony Payne’s book How to Walk into Church is a part of Matthias’ “Brief Books” series and, indeed, it is brief. It’s not a profound treatise on ecclesiology, nor an in-depth survey of church culture. It’s a simple exhortation for believers to carefully consider God’s purposes for church gatherings as well as to evaluate one’s own church-going habits. It’s a little book that has big potential to shape a culture of familial, Christ-like love in local churches. How to Walk into Church could be a great tool for new members classes and it could also be a righteous punch in the gut for longtime believers for whom walking into church has become a “business as usual” rut of routine.
The book nicely balances biblical explanation of the nature of the church with some extremely practical admonitions. There are a few sentences in Chapter One that, by themselves, are worth the price of admission. Payne writes, But if you were to understand what the Bible says about church—about what church is, and why we go there, and what we’re supposed to do while we’re there—then there is one particular way of walking into church that you would want to master . . . It is this: we should walk into church praying about where to sit (11).
That’s so simple, but by the imaginary seating chart in most sanctuaries, so few people seem to be praying about where to sit. I’m sure there’s some sociological data out there that explains why so many people sit in the same place in church, and I suppose routine is not all bad. Even so, there are some pew cushions in our church with custom rump imprints because the same people have been sitting in the same spots for decades. Even when a guest accidentally disrupts the invisible seating chart and season-ticket holders are forced to shuffle a few feet one way or the other, our typical patterns of who we talk to before and after church are often quite robotic.
The simple of act of praying about where to sit does more than mix up the seating chart, it enculturates the biblical truth that the church is a family in Christ. It also reinforces the truth that meeting together is not just a group counseling session from the pulpit, but a means by which the whole Body can “stir one another up toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24). Payne adds, “When we pray about where to sit, we’re also putting ourselves in the right frame of mind towards each other. We have started to think about church as being about someone other than me” (12).
I also appreciate how Payne explains that regularly gathering as a faith family is “desperately necessary” (29). He pointedly states, Christians need their regular meetings, like alcoholics need theirs. We need to get together with all our fellow reformed rebels and say, “Hi. My name is Tony, and I’m a forgiven sinner whose confidence is in my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.’ And, like alcoholics, we need mentors and coaches alongside us saying, ‘Keep going. Don’t go back to sin’ (29-30).
What a humbling perspective this is for those who come into church feeling strong and viewing the worship service as a weekly dose of life-coaching. We gather together weak, in need of the Lord’s mercy and in need of one another’s encouragement and presence.
There are numerous additional tidbits of truth that make this brief book well worth an hour of your time. The thought of an entire congregation showing up having prayed for how to love and encourage one another is thrilling. When believers come through the doors ready to love and serve one another, there’s no need for a fog-machine or a catalytic vision-caster to keep the doors open. The love of Christ is contagious and when Christ’s love is palpable among the Body, believers won’t have to be cajoled into showing up. In a day of consumeristic Christianity and sickly church attendance habits, How to Walk into Church may be just what the doctor ordered.
With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe, resulting in unprecedented closures and cancellations of church gatherings, it might seem pointless to read the book How to Walk into Church anytime soon. After all, fewer people are actually walking into church buildings during this pandemic than has ever been the case in our lifetimes.
Yet, it may be that in this societal moment when believers are not gathering together as usual, that the message of How to Walk into Church is more needed than ever. The act of entering a church building, which is often taken for granted, is on the collective forefront of our minds. Additionally, Lord willing, we will be walking back into church buildings soon and this is an opportunity from the sidelines to alter our habits once the ballgame resumes. Further, with many churches wisely making use of livestreaming capabilities during the pandemic, it’s critical that churches proclaim the necessity of the regular gathering of the saints, lest people continue to substitute livestreaming for church in a post-pandemic world.
Tony Payne’s book How to Walk into Church is a part of Matthias’ “Brief Books” series and, indeed, it is brief. It’s not a profound treatise on ecclesiology, nor an in-depth survey of church culture. It’s a simple exhortation for believers to carefully consider God’s purposes for church gatherings as well as to evaluate one’s own church-going habits. It’s a little book that has big potential to shape a culture of familial, Christ-like love in local churches. How to Walk into Church could be a great tool for new members classes and it could also be a righteous punch in the gut for longtime believers for whom walking into church has become a “business as usual” rut of routine.
The book nicely balances biblical explanation of the nature of the church with some extremely practical admonitions. There are a few sentences in Chapter One that, by themselves, are worth the price of admission. Payne writes, But if you were to understand what the Bible says about church—about what church is, and why we go there, and what we’re supposed to do while we’re there—then there is one particular way of walking into church that you would want to master . . . It is this: we should walk into church praying about where to sit (11).
That’s so simple, but by the imaginary seating chart in most sanctuaries, so few people seem to be praying about where to sit. I’m sure there’s some sociological data out there that explains why so many people sit in the same place in church, and I suppose routine is not all bad. Even so, there are some pew cushions in our church with custom rump imprints because the same people have been sitting in the same spots for decades. Even when a guest accidentally disrupts the invisible seating chart and season-ticket holders are forced to shuffle a few feet one way or the other, our typical patterns of who we talk to before and after church are often quite robotic.
The simple of act of praying about where to sit does more than mix up the seating chart, it enculturates the biblical truth that the church is a family in Christ. It also reinforces the truth that meeting together is not just a group counseling session from the pulpit, but a means by which the whole Body can “stir one another up toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24). Payne adds, “When we pray about where to sit, we’re also putting ourselves in the right frame of mind towards each other. We have started to think about church as being about someone other than me” (12).
I also appreciate how Payne explains that regularly gathering as a faith family is “desperately necessary” (29). He pointedly states, Christians need their regular meetings, like alcoholics need theirs. We need to get together with all our fellow reformed rebels and say, “Hi. My name is Tony, and I’m a forgiven sinner whose confidence is in my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.’ And, like alcoholics, we need mentors and coaches alongside us saying, ‘Keep going. Don’t go back to sin’ (29-30).
What a humbling perspective this is for those who come into church feeling strong and viewing the worship service as a weekly dose of life-coaching. We gather together weak, in need of the Lord’s mercy and in need of one another’s encouragement and presence.
There are numerous additional tidbits of truth that make this brief book well worth an hour of your time. The thought of an entire congregation showing up having prayed for how to love and encourage one another is thrilling. When believers come through the doors ready to love and serve one another, there’s no need for a fog-machine or a catalytic vision-caster to keep the doors open. The love of Christ is contagious and when Christ’s love is palpable among the Body, believers won’t have to be cajoled into showing up. In a day of consumeristic Christianity and sickly church attendance habits, How to Walk into Church may be just what the doctor ordered.
September 21, 2025
Highly recommend to anyone who is either new to the church or struggling with stepping into church.
Favorite highlights :
• “The church is Gods, not ours. The church is saved and assembled and ruled by God through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who calls us together, and in whose presence and for whose glory we meet”
It is not about what I want or my expectations.
• “Don’t make a habit of staying away, he says, but instead consider how you might stimulate one another to love and into good deeds, and encourage one another to keep going. And they should do so all the more as they see the day drawing near.” (From Heb. 10:24-25)
• “We speak the word of God to each other because that’s where Jesus reveals himself to us, and all that he has said and done.”
• “Paul’s big point is that if we are to be driven by love our aim at church should be to build up and encourage other people rather than thinking about how much we’re getting out of it or whether we’ve had a chance to exercise our gifts. Love does not insist on its own way or press its own claim.”
• “God is important to me, and you are important to me.”
Before you walk into church: pray and think through the scripture that will be preached that morning.
• “When we sing, we also teach and exhort one another, and declare to one another, the great deeds and words of the Lord.”
• “The basic method follows on from all that we’ve seen so far in this book. If we want to encourage and build people in our conversations at church, the key thing is to speak God‘s word.”
• “Church is an obligation and privilege to love and serve.”
Eph. 5:16-16
Favorite highlights :
• “The church is Gods, not ours. The church is saved and assembled and ruled by God through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who calls us together, and in whose presence and for whose glory we meet”
It is not about what I want or my expectations.
• “Don’t make a habit of staying away, he says, but instead consider how you might stimulate one another to love and into good deeds, and encourage one another to keep going. And they should do so all the more as they see the day drawing near.” (From Heb. 10:24-25)
• “We speak the word of God to each other because that’s where Jesus reveals himself to us, and all that he has said and done.”
• “Paul’s big point is that if we are to be driven by love our aim at church should be to build up and encourage other people rather than thinking about how much we’re getting out of it or whether we’ve had a chance to exercise our gifts. Love does not insist on its own way or press its own claim.”
• “God is important to me, and you are important to me.”
Before you walk into church: pray and think through the scripture that will be preached that morning.
• “When we sing, we also teach and exhort one another, and declare to one another, the great deeds and words of the Lord.”
• “The basic method follows on from all that we’ve seen so far in this book. If we want to encourage and build people in our conversations at church, the key thing is to speak God‘s word.”
• “Church is an obligation and privilege to love and serve.”
Eph. 5:16-16
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2019
How to walk into church is one of the Brief Books series by publisher Matthias Media. It has seven short chapters and is 64 pages in length.
The author Tony Payne writes about his experiences of walking into church which he has done regularly for many years. He writes to encourage churchgoers to be more intentional about their involvement in church. He discusses God’s perspective of church, his purpose in gathering his people together and what we gain from going to church.
His view is that we don’t go to church for what we get out of the experience, rather we go for what we can give, particularly in terms of encouraging, edifying, loving, and spurring on our fellow believers (Hebrews10:24-25). This is a complete change of perspective. It no longer matters whether we like the songs, the musicians or the worship leader. We are there to express our faith, hope and love in God, so we engage and participate, even if it is a sacrifice.
How to walk into church is a challenging book as it looks at our expectations in regard to church attendance.
Overall, it’s a practical and easy to read book.
The author Tony Payne writes about his experiences of walking into church which he has done regularly for many years. He writes to encourage churchgoers to be more intentional about their involvement in church. He discusses God’s perspective of church, his purpose in gathering his people together and what we gain from going to church.
His view is that we don’t go to church for what we get out of the experience, rather we go for what we can give, particularly in terms of encouraging, edifying, loving, and spurring on our fellow believers (Hebrews10:24-25). This is a complete change of perspective. It no longer matters whether we like the songs, the musicians or the worship leader. We are there to express our faith, hope and love in God, so we engage and participate, even if it is a sacrifice.
How to walk into church is a challenging book as it looks at our expectations in regard to church attendance.
Overall, it’s a practical and easy to read book.
September 27, 2017
My daughter saw this book in our house and said, "that is a dumb book. Who needs a whole book to tell you how to walk into church? Just use your legs abs walk in."
Just like my daughter I think there are many of who think this book is not for them. They don't need encouragement or instruction on how they go about attending their church. Or do they?
Probably like most pastors, I am constantly praying and longing for our church to be more welcoming to visitors, to be more engaged with each other's lives, to pay attention to the content of the service so they can share a word with someone else, etc....
This little book is a great resource. It's short. It's biblically based throughout. It's simple and clear, but in a good way. I feel like anyone in the church should be able to read it and apply it. I'm hoping many in my church will read it. I bought a bunch to give away and want to see these little mustard seeds grow big fruits in our church.
Just like my daughter I think there are many of who think this book is not for them. They don't need encouragement or instruction on how they go about attending their church. Or do they?
Probably like most pastors, I am constantly praying and longing for our church to be more welcoming to visitors, to be more engaged with each other's lives, to pay attention to the content of the service so they can share a word with someone else, etc....
This little book is a great resource. It's short. It's biblically based throughout. It's simple and clear, but in a good way. I feel like anyone in the church should be able to read it and apply it. I'm hoping many in my church will read it. I bought a bunch to give away and want to see these little mustard seeds grow big fruits in our church.
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