Spiritual Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Communicating God’s Glory: An Exegetical Insight from Exodus 40:34 at SMP Negeri 7 Siabu Satu Atap

Abstract

This study explores the spiritual competence of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in communicating God’s glory, drawing exegetical insight from Exodus 40:34 and contextualizing it within the educational environment of SMP Negeri 7 Siabu Satu Atap. In an era where educational challenges increasingly demand not only pedagogical skill but also deep spiritual maturity from teachers, understanding how CRE teachers embody and convey God’s presence becomes crucial. Using a qualitative descriptive method, the research involves classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with teachers and students, and documentation analysis to explore how spiritual competence manifests in teaching practices, interpersonal interactions, and classroom spiritual climate. The findings reveal that spiritually competent CRE teachers demonstrate a strong devotional life, a reflective understanding of God’s glory as a pedagogical foundation, relational warmth grounded in pastoral sensitivity, and spiritually integrated teaching strategies that encourage students to experience God’s presence in learning. The study concludes that embedding spiritual competence in Christian education requires a holistic approach involving personal spiritual formation, school culture, and ongoing theological engagement. This research contributes to the discourse on Christian pedagogy by offering an exegetically grounded framework for understanding how CRE teachers can faithfully communicate God’s glory within public-school settings in Indonesia.