During his many years in ministry to students Steve noticed some thrived spiritually, while others did not. He began studying what the common factors were that caused students to thrive, eventually earning a PhD in the philosophy of learning at Penn State University.
His research led to his first book, The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief & Behavior During the University Years, where he discusses the three critical success factors he identified. Now almost three decades later, The Fabric of Faithfulness continues to be widely read and these three principles continue to help countless students flourish as Christians during their university years, and beyond (and for this reason the subtitle was changed in the second edition, which we discuss).
In our conversation Steve describes how college students (and the rest of us) can apply these principles, and the profound difference this will make in the lives of all who do so.
In this podcast we discuss:
How Steve got interested in this topic
What he discovered from his research
The difference between professing belief and allowing it to shape our lives
Why it is necessary to take our faith seriously enough to let it shape our lives
Why it is hard in all ages and cultures to take faith in Christ seriously
Unique ways our current culture makes it hard to take faith in Christ seriously
Ways universities generally teach views of life, history, and reality that make it hard to take faith in Christ seriously
Similar and different challenges students will face at secular and Christian universities
The importance of discerning the perspective on life and the world being taught at any given university
The three things students must do to take their faith seriously and allow it to shape their lives (during college and beyond):
develop a robust Christian worldview
find a mentor
find Christian community
The importance of knowing how to discern truth in a pluralizing, secularizing world
The need, reasons, and goals of a mentoring relationship, and how to find a mentor
Why it is critically important to find a community of other believers on campus and after graduation
How to find a healthy Christian community on campus
Unhealthy features of some campus ministries on some campuses
Reducing faith to being purely private, disconnected from university conversations
A wrong theology of vocation promoted
How these principles apply to growing in faith after college as well
The importance of living well in the “here and now,” imperfect as it is
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior by Steven Garber
Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good by Steven Garber
The Seamless Life: A Tapestry of of Love and Learning, Worship and Work by Steven Garber