Persevering in Prayer: Pedagogical Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Teaching the Value of Devotion through Genesis 24:63 at SMA Negeri 1 Pematang Bandar

Abstract

This study explores the pedagogical competence of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in teaching the value of perseverance in prayer based on Genesis 24:63, which describes Isaac’s deep devotion to God through consistent prayer and meditation. The research was conducted at SMA Negeri 1 Pematang Bandar and aims to understand how teachers embody and communicate this biblical value in classroom settings. Using a SLR method, data were gathered through analysis involving CRE teachers and students. The findings reveal that pedagogical competence in teaching perseverance in prayer involves three essential dimensions: biblical integration, instructional creativity, and spiritual modeling. Teachers with strong pedagogical competence are able to interpret Genesis 24:63 not merely as a theological text but as a moral and spiritual framework for students’ daily lives. Through contextual teaching strategies, reflective learning, and mentoring, students learn to see prayer not as a ritual obligation but as a form of relational perseverance with God. Moreover, the study highlights that consistent teacher modeling-through prayerful behavior, empathy, and humility-greatly influences students’ internalization of the value of devotion. The research concludes that pedagogical competence in CRE must be both spiritually grounded and pedagogically innovative to effectively cultivate prayer perseverance among students in the modern educational context.