Pedagogical Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Cultivating Perseverance Values: A Study of Philippians 3:14 at SMP Negeri 2 Mazino

Abstract

This study investigates the pedagogical competence of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in cultivating perseverance values based on Philippians 3:14 among Christian students at SMP Negeri 2 Mazino, South Nias, Indonesia. Perseverance is a central Christian virtue that supports students’ spiritual formation, learning motivation, and resilience in facing academic and personal challenges. Grounded in biblical theology and contemporary pedagogical theory, this research explores how teachers’ pedagogical competencies contribute to the internalization of perseverance values in the classroom context. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected from 57 Christian students through a structured questionnaire measuring students’ perceptions of teachers’ pedagogical competence and their own perseverance-related attitudes and behaviors. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to examine the relationship between pedagogical competence and the cultivation of perseverance values. The findings indicate that CRE teachers’ pedagogical competence is perceived to be at a good level, particularly in lesson planning, instructional strategies, classroom management, and evaluation practices. This study concludes that pedagogical competence is a key factor in integrating biblical values into students’ character formation. The results highlight the importance of continuous professional development for CRE teachers to enhance pedagogical quality and strengthen the spiritual and character outcomes of Christian education. These findings contribute to the growing body of research on faith-based pedagogy and character education in public school contexts in Indonesia.