Developing the Seed of Faith Model: Integrating Piagetian Cognitive Development and Pauline Theology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53547/xdzbbq66Keywords:
child faith formation, Early Childhood Christian Education, Pauline theology, Piagetian cognitive development, Seed of Faith ModelAbstract
Early Childhood Christian Education (ECCE) requires a pedagogical foundation that integrates children's cognitive development with holistic faith formation. Although Piagetian cognitive developmental theory and Pauline theology provide relevant theoretical foundations, limited research has systematically synthesized these perspectives into a pedagogical model for Pentecostal Early Childhood Christian Education in Indonesia. This study aims to develop the Seed of Faith Model through a theoretical synthesis of Piagetian cognitive development and Pauline theology. The study employed an integrative theory-building research design supported by an exploratory case study. The first phase integrated developmental theory and grammatical-historical exegesis of selected Pauline texts to construct the conceptual framework, while the second phase used an exploratory case study in a Pentecostal church-based ECCE institution to examine and contextualise the model and provide preliminary evidence of its pedagogical relevance. The resulting Seed of Faith Model comprises four interrelated components: Prepared Soil, Planted Seed, Nurtured Growth, and Expected Fruit. These components describe the dynamic relationship between children's cognitive development, faith formation, community mentoring, and Christian character development. The study contributes a theoretically grounded and theologically coherent pedagogical model that integrates developmental psychology and Pauline theology for curriculum development and pedagogical practice in Indonesian Pentecostal Early Childhood Christian Education.
Abstrak
Pendidikan Kristen Anak Usia Dini (Early Childhood Christian Education/ECCE) memerlukan landasan pedagogis yang mengintegrasikan perkembangan kognitif anak dengan pembentukan iman yang holistik. Meskipun teori perkembangan kognitif Piaget dan teologi Paulus menyediakan landasan teoretis yang relevan, penelitian yang secara sistematis mensintesiskan kedua perspektif tersebut ke dalam suatu model pedagogis bagi Pendidikan Kristen Anak Usia Dini Pentakostal di Indonesia masih terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengembangkan Seed of Faith Model melalui sintesis teoretis antara perkembangan kognitif Piaget dan teologi Paulus. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain integrative theory-building research yang didukung oleh studi kasus eksploratoris. Tahap pertama mengintegrasikan teori perkembangan dan eksegesis gramatikal-historis terhadap teks-teks Paulus yang dipilih untuk membangun kerangka konseptual, sedangkan tahap kedua menggunakan studi kasus eksploratoris pada sebuah lembaga Pendidikan Kristen Anak Usia Dini berbasis gereja Pentakostal untuk mengontekstualisasikan model dan memberikan bukti awal mengenai relevansi pedagogisnya. Seed of Faith Model yang dihasilkan terdiri atas empat komponen yang saling berkaitan, yaitu Prepared Soil (Tanah yang Dipersiapkan), Planted Seed (Benih yang Ditaburkan), Nurtured Growth (Pertumbuhan yang Dipelihara), dan Expected Fruit (Buah yang Diharapkan). Keempat komponen tersebut menggambarkan hubungan dinamis antara perkembangan kognitif anak, pembentukan iman, pendampingan komunitas, dan perkembangan karakter Kristiani. Penelitian ini memberikan kontribusi berupa model pedagogis yang memiliki landasan teoretis dan koherensi teologis dengan mengintegrasikan psikologi perkembangan dan teologi Paulus sebagai dasar bagi pengembangan kurikulum dan praktik pedagogis dalam Pendidikan Kristen Anak Usia Dini Pentakostal di Indonesia.
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