Making Faith Meaningful: Pedagogical Strategies of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Connecting Exodus 15:25 with Students’ Life Experiences at SMP N 2 Siempatnempu Hilir
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study examines the pedagogical strategies employed by Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in making faith meaningful by connecting Exodus 15:25 with students’ lived experiences at SMP N 2 Siempatnempu Hilir. Using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) design, this research synthesizes recent scholarly works (2019-2025) on pedagogical competence, contextual biblical interpretation, and faith-based education. The review followed a structured process of identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and thematic synthesis to ensure methodological rigor and credibility. A total of 28 peer-reviewed articles were analyzed to identify recurring pedagogical patterns relevant to bridging Scripture and life experience. The findings reveal that pedagogical competence in CRE is multidimensional, encompassing interpretive accuracy, learner-centered instructional design, relational authenticity, and contextual sensitivity. Effective strategies for connecting Exodus 15:25 with adolescents’ experiences include narrative-based teaching, reflective learning activities, collaborative discussion, experiential engagement, and teacher modeling. These approaches enable students to internalize theological themes such as resilience, obedience, and trust in God, transforming biblical narratives from abstract doctrines into lived spiritual guidance. The study further emphasizes the importance of relational pedagogy in fostering meaningful dialogue and spiritual growth, particularly at the junior high school level where identity formation is prominent. The research concludes that making faith meaningful requires intentional integration of theological insight and pedagogical expertise. By employing contextual and transformative teaching strategies, CRE teachers can cultivate deeper spiritual engagement and character development. This study contributes to ongoing discussions on teacher competence and faith integration in Christian education contexts.
Downloads
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Bouway, K., & Mbelanggedo, N. (2025). Pendekatan holistik pada kompetensi guru PAK: Menyeimbangkan aspek teologis, pedagogis, dan sosial. Imitatio Christo: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Agama Kristen, 1(2), 174-192. https://doi.org/10.63536/imitatiochristo.v1i2.13
Ernawati, E. (2025). Understanding pedagogical competence in the context of Islamic Religious Education. Sufiya Journal of Islamic Studies, 1(1), 60-71.
Hutauruk, K., & Irawati, W. (2024). Pedagogical competence of Christian teachers as facilitators in developing 21st century thinking skills. Didache: Journal of Christian Education, 5(2), Article 792. https://doi.org/10.46445/djce.v5i2.792
Manullang, R. (2024). Pedagogical competence in Christian Religious Education: Guiding students to understand God’s redemptive plan through Genesis 45:7-8 at SDN 060879 Medan Timur. Journal of Christian Pedagogy and Theology
Pangaribuan, R. (2025). Pedagogical competence of Christian Religious Education teachers in responding to educational crises: A theological reflection on Exodus 32:1 at SMP Negeri 2 NA IX–X Labuhan Batu. Journal of Christian Pedagogy and Theology.
Poluan, A., & Talangamin, S. (2021). Kompetensi pedagogik guru Pendidikan Agama Kristen dalam meningkatkan keaktifan siswa. Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan, 7(2), 539-543.
Rakim, R., Liud, Y. H., Nendissa, J. E., Langi, E. A., & Tonapa, D. (2024). Kompetensi dan strategi pembelajaran kontekstual bagi guru Pendidikan Agama Kristen dalam meningkatkan prestasi belajar siswa. Jurnal Gamaliel: Teologi Praktika.
Sianipar, Y. A., Panjaitan, D. M., & Turnip, H. (2022). Kompetensi pedagogik guru terhadap hasil belajar siswa dalam pembelajaran PAK. JUPERAN: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran, 2(03), 310. https://doi.org/10.70294/juperan.v2i03.310
Tanama, Y. J., Pakpahan, D. F., & Purnama, W. S. (2022). Contextualization of Christian Religious Education for teenagers. PASCA: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Agama Kristen, 18(2), 208–219. https://doi.org/10.46494/psc.v18i2.221
Viani, N., & Arifianto, Y. A. (2022). Kompetensi profesional guru dalam proses pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Kristen. Angelion: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Kristen, 3(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.38189/jan.v3i1.250
Zebua, A. P. (2025). Pedagogical competence of Christian Religious Education teachers in cultivating the value of persevering faith: A study based on Genesis 49:18 at SMK Negeri 3 Gunungsitoli. Journal of Christian Pedagogy and Theology.