Mitra Sriwijaya: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Kristen

Gereja Mengambil Keputusan Etis di Era Digital dengan Budaya Algoritmik

Maxi Marthinus Mantow — 2026-07-31

The emergence of digital and algorithmic culture has significantly transformed ethical decision-making within the church in contemporary society. This article examines ecclesial ethical discernment through Paul Tillich’s method of correlation in the context of the Gereja Masehi Injili di Minahasa (GMIM). Using a constructive theological approach, the study argues that algorithmic culture is not merely a technological framework but an existential condition shaping ecclesial authority, moral perception, and theological reflection. The church exists within tensions between empirical digital realities (das Sein) and normative Christian ideals (das Sollen). Algorithmic logic characterized by virality, visibility, and engagement increasingly influences ethical judgments and creates new forms of moral ambiguity within church life. This article proposes the Digital Ecclesial Ethical Discernment (DEED) model as a framework integrating existential digital challenges with Christian ethical norms such as agape, veritas, dikaiosyne, responsibility, and imago Dei. The model offers a structured and contextual approach for ecclesial ethical decision-making within contemporary digital transformation.

Tinggal dan Berbuah dalam Kristus: Hermeneutik Kontekstual Yohanes 15:1-8 di Tengah Kehidupan Pemuda GKST Jemaat Anugerah Lena

Melani Dombo — 2026-07-31

This article is a hermeneutical reading of John 15:1-8 in dialogue with the lived experiences of the youth of GKST Anugerah Lena Congregation. The study arises from the reality that young Christians live amid social change, economic pressures, and educational and occupational mobility that influence their participation in church life. Previous studies on John 15:1-8 have largely focused on Christology, the symbolism of the vine, and individual spirituality, while the contextual appropriation of the text within church communities has received less attention. This research employs a hermeneutical method with a qualitative-descriptive approach through textual analysis of John 15:1-8 and interviews with church youth. The findings show that Jesus as the True Vine is understood as the source of life, spiritual growth, and fruitfulness. Abiding in Christ is interpreted as a continuous relationship sustained through faithfulness amid life's challenges. Furthermore, fruitfulness is understood not only as an individual spiritual quality but also as participation in ministry, solidarity, and responsibility toward the church community.

Manajemen Konflik Antar Mahasiswa Di Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Berasrama: Suatu Tinjauan Konseptual

Krisda Mahdalena Sinaga — 2026-07-31

Dormitory life constitutes an essential component in promoting the success of student education. Students come from diverse cultural, familial, personal, intellectual, value-based, and spiritual backgrounds. Such diversity is an inseparable aspect of residential student life. On the one hand, diversity can enrich communal living experiences; on the other hand, it may give rise to interpersonal conflicts. Conflicts that are not managed effectively have the potential to hinder students’ holistic development. This study employs a library research approach to examine conflict management within student dormitories. The findings indicate that interpersonal conflict among students is a common and potential occurrence in dormitory settings due to the diversity of students’ backgrounds. Effective conflict management should be grounded in strong educational philosophical foundations—namely holistic, collaborative, and transformative principles—in order to foster a harmonious residential environment and support students’ comprehensive development. Based on a synthesis of the literature, the collaborative conflict management style emerges as an effective strategy for managing conflicts constructively by generating solutions that accommodate the interests of all parties involved. Furthermore, the collaborative approach is considered the most relevant because it promotes dialogue, cooperation, and the pursuit of mutually beneficial solutions among students. This article contributes practical recommendations for dormitory administrators in building healthy and supportive residential communities.

Liturgi Epifani Sebagai Manifestasi Kehadiran Kristus: Suatu Kajian Teologis- Liturgis Dalam Tradisi HKBP

Roymandani Manurung — 2026-07-31

This study explores the theological and liturgical meaning of the Epiphany celebration as a manifestation of Christ’s presence within the tradition of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP). In the wider Christian tradition, Epiphany is understood as the revelation of Christ to the nations seen in the visit of the Magi, His baptism in the Jordan, and His first miracle at Cana. Yet within the context of HKBP, this celebration tends to receive less emphasis compared to Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. Using a qualitative approach, this research draws on literature review and interviews with two pastors and two congregational members. The analysis applies a liturgical hermeneutical framework based on the HKBP Agenda. The findings indicate that, theologically, Epiphany affirms Christ as the Light for all nations. However, in practice, its meaning has not been deeply rooted in the spiritual awareness of the congregation. An examination of HKBP’s liturgical texts reveals a worship structure rich in theological symbols that proclaim Christ’s presence. Therefore, a renewed understanding of Epiphany is needed, one that is nurtured through liturgical education, the enrichment of worship symbols, and a stronger emphasis on Christ’s universal mission in the life of the church community.

Homiletika Pasca-Manusia: Ketika Firman Dikumandangkan Oleh Mesin Dan Didengar Oleh Jiwa Yang Lelah

Alelang Deprolius Bang — 2026-07-31

This study examines the dynamics of homiletics in the posthuman era, where the proclamation of God's Word is increasingly mediated by artificial intelligence and received by individuals experiencing existential exhaustion. The research asks how artificial intelligence reshapes the nature of homiletics and to what extent the spiritual dimension of preaching can be sustained within digital environments. Accordingly, the study aims to analyze the relationship between artificial intelligence, digital media, and the proclamation of the Word from the perspective of practical theology. Employing a qualitative-descriptive approach, the research utilizes theological hermeneutics and an interdisciplinary literature review encompassing theology, philosophy of technology, and digital communication. The findings reveal that although artificial intelligence can replicate the rhetorical form and structural composition of sermons, it remains incapable of embodying the transcendent spiritual dimension without the participation of human consciousness, lived faith, and spiritual experience. The interaction between algorithmic systems and the human soul opens new horizons for theological reflection concerning divine presence in digital spaces. The study concludes that posthuman homiletics requires a reconstruction of the relationship between the Word, its communicative medium, and its hearers, while affirming that God's presence transcends technological limitations and can nevertheless be proclaimed creatively through digitally mediated platforms that retain genuine spiritual significance.

Ibadah Hybrid sebagai Ruang Spiritualitas Digital Generasi Z di Gereja Batak Karo Protestan Yogyakarta

Ari Renta Suari Br. Tarigan — 2026-07-31

The development of digital technology has transformed the way people communicate, build relationships, and experience spirituality, particularly among Generation Z as digital natives. This transformation challenges the church to rethink its ministry practices, including worship practices that integrate physical and digital spaces. This study aims to analyze hybrid worship as a space for digital spirituality among Generation Z at Gereja Batak Karo Protestan (GBKP) Yogyakarta. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observation, and documentation involving pastors, multimedia ministry teams, and Generation Z members actively participating in hybrid worship. The findings indicate that hybrid worship is not merely a technological adaptation after the COVID-19 pandemic but has become a new space for spiritual experience, community connection, and active participation in church ministry. Generation Z does not perceive digital worship as a replacement for physical worship but as an extension of faith experience that provides flexibility and maintains connection with the church community. Through dialogue with James Emery White’s perspective on Generation Z, Elizabeth Drescher’s concept of digital spirituality, and the idea of networked ministry, this study proposes the model of hybrid spirituality for Generation Z, consisting of three dimensions: authentic spiritual experience, digital spirituality, and participatory network ministry. This model emphasizes that the church in the digital era is called not only to utilize technology as a ministry tool but also to create spaces where Generation Z can encounter God, build community, and actively participate in the life and mission of the church.

Penerapan Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Kristen Berbasis Amsal 3:5-6 dalam Meningkatkan Spiritualitas Siswa

Gustinilai Fau — 2026-07-31

This study examines Christian Religious Education (CRE) learning based on Proverbs 3:5-6 as an effort to strengthen students’ spirituality amid the challenges of the digital era. The study is motivated by the weakening internalization of spiritual values, moral crises among students, and the tendency of CRE learning to focus primarily on cognitive and theoretical aspects. The objective of this study is to analyze the theological relevance of Proverbs 3:5-6 and synthesize its application within CRE learning to support students’ spiritual formation. This research employs a qualitative approach using library research by analyzing books, scholarly articles, and relevant theological sources. The novelty of this study lies in the development of a conceptual CRE learning framework that integrates the two central principles of Proverbs 3:5-6, namely “trust in the Lord with all your heart” and “lean not on your own understanding,” as reflective and contextual pedagogical foundations. The literature synthesis indicates that these values are relevant for fostering spiritual maturity, moral character, self-control, and students’ ability to face spiritual challenges in the digital age. The findings suggest that integrating the theological principles of Proverbs 3:5-6 can provide a conceptual contribution to the development of CRE learning that emphasizes students’ spiritual transformation.

Berkontemplasi dalam Era Digital: Peluang Meningkatkan Spiritualitas Generasi Z

Tesha Widyanari Anggraeni Rumpoko — 2026-07-31

Generation Z is a generation born and raised in the digital era, making technology an inseparable part of their daily lives. While technological advancements provide easier access to information and spiritual resources, they also present challenges such as digital distractions, digital addiction, diminished capacity for reflection, and increasing psychological and spiritual pressures. This article aims to examine contemplative practices as a means of fostering the spirituality of Generation Z amid the dynamics of the digital age. The study employs a literature review method by analyzing various sources on the characteristics of Generation Z, the impact of digital technology on spiritual life, and the concept of contemplation within the Christian tradition. The findings indicate that contemplation can serve as a space for cultivating silence, self-awareness, faith reflection, and a deeper relationship with God. Contemplative practices may be expressed through creative prayer, the Examen of Consciousness, digital detox, reflection through art and physical activity, social service, as well as the use of digital applications and online communities that support spiritual growth. When technology is used wisely, the digital era can also become an opportunity to cultivate a reflective, authentic, and contextually relevant spirituality for Generation Z.

Khotbah Ekspositori sebagai Sarana Pertumbuhan Iman Jemaat

Dewi Magdalena Rotua — 2026-07-31

Expository preaching is a form of ministry of the Word that interprets and communicates the meaning of biblical texts systematically, historically, and contextually, thereby addressing the spiritual needs of the congregation. Although expository preaching has been widely discussed in homiletical studies, existing research has generally focused on delivery techniques or principles of interpretation, while its theological construction as an instrument for fostering the congregation’s growth in faith remains underdeveloped. Therefore, this study aims to reconstruct the role of expository preaching as a model of faith formation that integrates hermeneutical, theological, and transformative dimensions. This study employs a descriptive qualitative method through a literature review of relevant sources in biblical theology, homiletics, and spiritual growth. The findings indicate that expository preaching preserves the doctrinal integrity of the church, cultivates congregations that are critical and mature in faith, strengthens the spiritual life of the church, and addresses congregational needs. The novelty of this study lies in its conceptual formulation of expository preaching as an integrative model that connects biblical interpretation, spiritual formation, and the continuous development of faith. Thus, expository preaching should be understood not merely as a preaching method but as a strategy for congregational formation that produces maturity in faith rooted in biblical truth and responsive to the challenges facing the contemporary church.

Jam Doa “PERMATA” sebagai Pelayanan Kaum Muda Kontemplatif di Gereja Batak Karo Protestan

Louise Febina Sinukaban — 2026-07-31

Generation Z is a digital generation for whom social media plays a significant role in identity formation. This condition requires churches to develop youth ministries that correspond to the spiritual needs and distinctive characteristics of this generation. The Protestant Karo Batak Church (GBKP) responds to this need through Jam Doa PERMATA, or the PERMATA Prayer Hour, a Bible study method that encourages young people to slow down, reflect, and experience the presence of God contemplatively. This study aims to analyze Jam Doa PERMATA as a form of contemplative youth ministry within the context of Generation Z’s digital life. It employs a qualitative method based on observations conducted in a local church, using Mark Yaconelli’s theory of contemplative youth ministry as the analytical framework. The findings indicate that Jam Doa PERMATA provides a space for young people to express their concerns, experience silence, and recognize and interpret the presence of God in their lives. The provision of contemplative space in fellowship and Bible study also demonstrates the church’s involvement in the spiritual formation of Generation Z. Therefore, Jam Doa PERMATA can be further developed as a relevant, contextual, and sustainable model of youth ministry amid the continuing development of the digital world.

Transformasi Konsep Bait Suci dalam Tradisi Yahudi dan Kristen Awal: Refleksi Teologis dan Praktis bagi Gereja Kontemporer

Ferry Agustian — 2026-07-31

This study aims to examine the transformation of the meaning and function of the Temple during the Intertestamental Period and its relevance for the contemporary church. The research employs a qualitative method through literature review, historical analysis, and theological-comparative study of biblical sources and relevant academic literature. The findings indicate that during the Intertestamental Period, the Temple functioned not only as a center of worship but also as a center of national identity, religious education, and the social and political life of the Jewish people. In early Christian tradition, the understanding of the Temple underwent a significant transformation through the teachings of Jesus Christ, who presented Himself as the true Temple, and through the teachings of the Apostle Paul, who viewed the church and believers as the spiritual Temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells. This transformation shifted the focus from a physical building to a community of faith living in Christ. The study concludes that the concept of the Temple remains theologically relevant for the contemporary church, particularly in understanding God's presence, holiness, the unity of believers, and the church's role as a center for spiritual formation.

Epistemologi Teologi Religionum: Menginternalisasi Doktrin Soteriologi Dalam Konteks Dialog Antaragama

Boy Anto Ando Silitonga — 2026-08-04

This article is grounded in the reality of religious pluralism in Indonesia, which presents theological challenges for the church, particularly in situating Christian soteriological doctrine within the demands of interfaith dialogue. This study aims to analyze the epistemology of Theology of Religions in the context of interfaith dialogue in Indonesia and to formulate a “Soteriological Epistemic Bridge” model as a dialogical approach that mediates exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism of salvation. The research method employed is a qualitative approach using comparative-critical theology through hermeneutical analysis of theological texts across traditions, combined with a phenomenological approach to religious experience. This study offers the “Soteriological Epistemic Bridge” model, a new construct that mediates between exclusivism, inclusivism, and salvation pluralism without relinquishing the doctrinal identities of each tradition. The research findings indicate that the internalization of soteriology within Theology of Religions does not constitute a reduction of truth but rather an expansion of the epistemic horizon that provides space for authentic and transformative dialogue. The theological implications and pastoral practices of these findings are formulated within the context of Indonesia’s diversity.

Membangun Ketahanan Iman Anak melalui Pengembangan Kurikulum Sekolah Minggu yang Adaptif: Studi Kepustakaan

Yulia Citra Ndruru — 2026-08-07

This study is motivated by the challenges of building children’s faith resilience amid rapid social, cultural, and digital technological changes that influence their patterns of thinking, behavior, and relationships. Sunday School curricula that remain normative, teacher-centered, and insufficiently contextual are considered inadequate in supporting the development of children’s faith resilience that is relevant, reflective, and sustainable. This study aims to formulate the concept of an adaptive Sunday School curriculum as a strategy for building children’s faith resilience from an early age. The research employs a qualitative descriptive approach using a library research method through the analysis of relevant literature on children’s faith education and Christian Religious Education curriculum development. The study focuses on the limitations of existing curricula, the urgency of an adaptive approach, the integration of faith experiences, and the role of families and church communities in building children’s faith resilience. The novelty of this study lies in formulating the concept of an adaptive Sunday School curriculum by integrating faith experiences, local cultural contexts, technological developments, and children’s lived realities as a holistic strategy for building faith resilience. Based on the synthesis of the literature, a curriculum that is flexible, participatory, contextual, and grounded in faith experiences, while supported by collaboration between churches and families, is considered to have the potential to strengthen children’s spiritual identity, Christian character, and faith resilience in a sustainable manner.

Redemption Sebagai Inisiatif Ilahi: Analisis Teologis atas Konsep Keselamatan Kristen

Onesiporus Pengharapan Lase — 2026-08-07

The study aims to demonstrate that redemption is not the result of human effort, but the work of God that precedes, surpasses, and shapes human response in faith. This research employs a qualitative library research method with biblical-theological and historical-theological approaches to relevant biblical texts and theological literature. The findings show that the canonical pattern of Scripture consistently presents God as the primary subject of salvation, from the call of Abraham, the exodus, and the sacrificial system to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Dialogue with the Christian theological tradition further confirms that reconciliation, liberation, and union with Christ are all grounded in divine grace. Therefore, faith, repentance, and obedience should be understood as responses to God’s redemptive work rather than conditions for obtaining salvation.

Eklesiologi Kristosentris Dalam Menghadapi Tantangan Kapitalisme dan Sekularisme Kontemporer

Anggiat Saut Manullang — 2026-08-07

The contemporary church faces growing challenges from capitalism and secularism. As a community of faith rooted in the Pentecost event (Acts 2:1–13), the church is called to remain centered on Christ and faithfully proclaim the Kingdom of God. However, capitalist values that emphasize productivity, efficiency, measurable achievement, and material success, together with secular perspectives that marginalize spirituality in public life, may shift church ministry from its biblical and theological foundations toward pragmatic and institutional orientations. This study analyzes the challenges posed by capitalism and secularism to Christocentric ecclesiology and examines their implications for contemporary church ministry. Using a qualitative library research method, the study integrates biblical interpretation, theological reflection, and contextual analysis of relevant scholarly literature. The findings indicate that capitalism and secularism influence the church’s understanding of leadership, ministry effectiveness, and congregational growth. When adopted uncritically, these influences may obscure the church’s identity as the Body of Christ and weaken its divine calling and missional purpose. Therefore, the church must reaffirm a ministry grounded in biblical truth, centered on Christ, and directed toward the proclamation of God’s Kingdom. At the same time, it must engage constructively with social change without compromising its theological identity. This study concludes that Christocentric ecclesiology provides an essential theological framework for preserving the authenticity, integrity, and mission of the church amid the continuing transformations of modern society.