In this episode of the Radically Christian Podcast, Wes McAdams interviews Dr. Carl Williamson, a church planter and disciple-maker who teaches at Harding University. The conversation explores how disciple-making can move beyond programs into a reproducible, Spirit-led way of life modeled after Jesus. Williamson explains that a disciple is someone “following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and committed to the mission of Jesus,” and that the goal of his ministry is to help ordinary believers live that out in community.
Williamson describes how he trains students at Harding to form “disciple-making groups”—small, four-person communities patterned after Jesus’ relationships with Peter, James, and John. These groups meet for about a year to a year and a half, following a rhythm of studying Scripture, eating, serving, resting, and praying together.
Dr. Carl Williamson is first and foremost a follower of Jesus. He has spent his life sharing the gospel with non-believers and training disciple makers in central New Jersey. He has been instrumental in establishing 2 new churches and working with 2 different church planting teams. He received a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Harding School of Theology in 2018. He is the Distinguished Andy T. Ritchie Chair for discipleship and church planting at Harding University.
Links and Resources
* Trust and Follow Jesus by Carl and Alicia Williamson & Bobby Harrington
* Dr. Carl Williamson Harding University Faculty Page
* Logos Bible Software — Free trial at logos.com/radicallychristian
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