Developing Active Faith in Christian Education: The Spiritual Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers Based on Philippians 2:12-13 at SD Negeri Pulo Latong

Abstract

The development of active faith is a central goal of Christian Religious Education, particularly in contexts where students require guidance to connect biblical teachings with daily life. In this process, the spiritual competence of teachers plays a crucial role in shaping students’ understanding and practice of faith. This study examines the spiritual competence of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in fostering active faith among students based on the theological perspective of Philippians 2:12-13 at SD Negeri Pulo Latong, Southeast Aceh. The research employed a qualitative descriptive approach involving one CRE teacher and ten Christian students who participate in Christian Religious Education classes. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, classroom observations, and documentation analysis to explore how the teacher’s spiritual competence influences the development of students’ faith. The findings reveal that the teacher’s spiritual competence is expressed through personal spiritual discipline, contextual biblical teaching, relational mentoring, and the modeling of Christian values in daily interactions. The study concludes that spiritually competent teachers play a vital role in cultivating active faith among students, even within minority and resource-limited educational contexts, by integrating biblical values with meaningful educational practices that support holistic spiritual development.