Pedagogical Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Cultivating Worship Spirituality: A Reflection on Exodus 29:45 at SDN 1 Labuhan Dalam

Main Article Content

Ira Issaura Hutapea

Abstract

Pedagogical competence plays a vital role in shaping students’ spiritual formation within Christian Religious Education (CRE), particularly in cultivating authentic worship awareness. This study examined the pedagogical competence of a CRE teacher in nurturing worship spirituality among students at SDN 1 Labuhan Dalam, Bandar Lampung, through the theological lens of Exodus 29:45. A qualitative descriptive design was employed to obtain an in-depth understanding of classroom practices and student experiences. The participants consisted of one CRE teacher and 25 Christian students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, and were analyzed using an interactive qualitative model involving data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that the teacher demonstrates strong pedagogical competence reflected in intentional lesson planning, relational and student-centered instruction, consistent modeling of worshipful attitudes, and the use of experiential learning strategies such as guided prayer and reflective activities. These practices contribute positively to students’ awareness of God’s presence and their engagement in worship-related behaviors. However, the study also identifies areas for improvement, particularly in the explicit theological integration of Exodus 29:45 within lesson design and the need for more systematic experiential frameworks. In the minority context of the school, the CRE classroom functions not only as an instructional space but also as a supportive faith community. The study concludes that pedagogical competence grounded in biblical theology and relational practice is essential for fostering meaningful worship spirituality in elementary CRE. Future research is recommended to involve broader contexts and longitudinal approaches.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

Section

Articles

References

Berkowitz, M. W., & Bier, M. C. (2005). What works in character education: A research-driven guide for educators. Journal of Character Education, 3(1), 7–31.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2009). InterViews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE Publications.

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Palmer, P. J. (2007). The courage to teach: Exploring the inner landscape of a teacher’s life (10th anniversary ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Wenham, G. J. (1994). Genesis 16–50 (Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 2). Word Books.