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The doctrine of the threefold office, or Christ's three offices, is presented as characteristic of the Reformed tradition since John Calvin and the confessional documents of the 16th and 17th centuries, though it is poorly investigated among those who claim to be Reformed in Brazil today. In order to respond to accusations and correct mistaken perceptions of this doctrinal locus, the article first investigates the Scriptural foundation and the history of redemption to conclude that it is a biblical paradigm, rather than a dogmatic formula forced on to the sacred text, for at least three reasons: mosaic law regulations, eschatological expectation of something superior regarding the offices, the presence of a figure who would unite all three offices. Secondly, the article highlights characteristics of the nature of the office (incarnate constitution, divine authority, redemptive content, simultaneous exercise of the functions, and demand for obedience) that correct Christological and ecclesiological mistakes both in academic as well as ecclesiastical settings. Lastly, the article presents the exercise of the offices by Christians under the authority of Christ with three concerns in mind: to contend against the usurpers who place themselves as intermediaries of spirituality, to avoid triumphalism by means of the trajectory of humiliation and consequent exaltation of the threefold office, to distinguish how the Supreme officer works from our functions as sub-officers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay seeks to locate church planting in the context of the mission Christ entrusted to the church. The author begins by pointing out various attitudes toward church planting. Next, he shows the relationship between theological reflection and missionary practice, and he insists that they need to walk side by side. He then seeks to answer three fundamental questions: What is the church? What is the mission of the church? Where church planting should be placed in the mission of the church? As he deals with the second issue, the mission of the church, the author analyzes five key passages: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8, and John 20:21. Finally, he considers what is the relationship between the mission of the church and church planting by focusing on three aspects: church planting as a task, as a method, and as a consequence. He concludes that there is an intrinsic connection between church planting and the mission of the church. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a theology of worship with little discernment between the different types of worship and the effects of highlighting a private spirituality. Such theology resulted in a devaluation of public worship. The Reformed tradition has argued that corporate worship is part of the essence of the church, and without such worship the church abandons its doxological and assembled essence. Besides, this tradition has historically defended the priority of public worship over private worship for the well-being of our Christian life. Therefore, corporate worship is seen as necessary and useful to cultivate a healthy spirituality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article intends to analyze the growth of the church, initially by observing the dangers of taking a pragmatic stance on the principles and strategies, especially in the church revitalization process. It includes an analysis of some authors of the Church Growth Movement, which has experienced a resurgence in recent years, endeavoring to merge the principles of the social sciences with biblical-theological principles in favor of numerical growth. Finally, it establishes a starting point for church revitalization diagnosis, avoiding extremes that are dangerous in any missionary dimension and in any period of church history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to evaluate some of the distinctive features of what the author believes to be a church in the Old Testament. The focus of research is restricted to the events and narratives related to Eden (in keeping with the size constraints of this issue), although a few comments are made on the church during the times of Cain and Abel, as well as Enoch and Enosh. According to the author, it is possible to think in terms of a church in the fullest sense of the word during the times of the Old Testament. The marks of this church, which were initially observed in the context of the Garden of Eden, continued on delineating the contours of church life and practice throughout redemptive history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the historical and theological roots of the socalled "new apostolic reformation", a movement that has appeared in recent years within neopentecostal circles. The author examines, first, the claims to the apostolate of Christ made by gnostic leaders in the first centuries of the Christian church. Then, the apostolic movement initiated by Edward Irving, claiming the need for apostolic restoration in preparation for Christ's second coming. The article closes with a comparison of the main difference between the Reformation and these apostolic movements, that is, that the reformers attempted to reform the Church by going back to the apostles' teachings, while these movements want to reform the Church by restoring their office. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the problems that affect evangelical churches and frustrate their leaders is membership withdrawal. Although this phenomenon is not recent, it has become more acute in recent years and as such poses a serious challenge in the pastoral area. There are many causes that lead people to drop out of their churches and such causes must be known, understood and confronted. This article has in view to discuss the issue from historical and biblical perspectives. At the same time it proposes measures that can be taken in order to allay this difficulty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Church revitalization has become a topic of extreme importance in academic studies as well as in ministerial practice. Several contributions have been made available regarding methods and strategies of church revitalization. However, there seems to be still a necessity of a clearer approach towards the elaboration of an accurate diagnosis on the spiritual condition of a local church. What criteria should be considered in order to determine that a local church really needs revitalization? This article deals with this question by analyzing some common suggestions regarding this issue and by focusing on some biblical principles that contribute for a solid diagnosis. The main objective of the article is to minimize confusion about this topic and help researchers to look at the church from the perspective of Scripture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As he raises the question of what is a Reformed ecclesiology, the author demonstrates an identity problem when sympathizers of this tradition bring up issues that do not represent the core of ecclesiology or ground their answers on their own experience or on a key theologian. As a more faithful way for the tradition under discussion, the author proposes to analyze the nature of the church in light of some Reformed confessions. As he presents the essence of Reformed ecclesiology imbedded in the phrase "communion of the saints" and describes the four attributes of the church (one, holy, catholic, and apostolic) in light of important distinctions (organism vs. organization, visible vs. invisible), the author concludes that a Reformed ecclesiology is not something easy to define, but also that a better understanding of the Reformed concept of the church instills love for what God has already done in the church, besides faith and hope regarding what he will do in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Church revitalization has been a topic of great interest and major discussion in missiological studies in recent years. Lately, the missiological and pastoral focus has been redirected toward the strengthening and renewal of old congregations that were dynamic in the past, but now have come to a point of stagnation or even decline. Today academics defend revitalization in a way that churches willing to multiply themselves consider whether they are healthy enough to do so in order not to generate ill congregations. However, a review of the literature on the subject reveals an omission regarding some prolegomena questions in the continuance of the conversation on church re-vitalization. This article aims to consider some of those questions and, at the same time, offer some suggestions towards their inclusion in the process of a constructive dialogue on this subject. The reader will certainly realize that other topics deserve a similar treatment, but this analysis proposes to be only a preliminary discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]