Social Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Managing Student Diversity: A Reflection on Philippians 1:27 at SDN 091407 Sarimatondang

Abstract

This study investigates the role of worship in strengthening students’ spiritual competence in light of Matthew 28:17 within the context of Christian Religious Education at SMP Negeri 3 Satu Atap Lumut, Central Tapanuli. Worship is widely recognized in Christian pedagogy as a formative practice that integrates cognitive understanding, affective response, and behavioral expression of faith. However, empirical studies examining its measurable contribution to students’ spiritual competence in Indonesian public schools remain limited. This research therefore aims to analyze the extent to which structured school worship contributes to students’ spiritual development. The study employed a quantitative descriptive–correlational design with students as respondents. The population consisted of 122 Christian students, all of whom were included using total sampling. Data were collected through a validated Likert-scale questionnaire measuring two variables: quality of worship implementation and students’ spiritual competence. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression. The findings indicate that both worship implementation and students’ spiritual competence are in the high category. Inferential analysis reveals a significant positive relationship between the two variables, demonstrating that meaningful and well-facilitated worship contributes substantially to strengthening students’ spiritual competence. The results support the theological insight of Matthew 28:17 that authentic worship nurtures deeper faith response and spiritual maturity. The study concludes that structured worship is an effective pedagogical strategy in Christian Religious Education, even in contexts with limited human resources. Strengthening the quality, intentionality, and student engagement in worship practices is therefore recommended to sustain holistic spiritual formation in schools.