43. Life With God (with Debbie Swindoll)

What if discipleship was less about learning more information about God and more about learning how to live with God?

In this episode of The Being Formed Podcast, Adam Ormord sits down with Debbie Swindoll — founder of Grafted Life Ministries and the Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (CSDA). Together, they explore the difference between information-based discipleship and true spiritual formation that leads to transformation into Christlikeness.

Debbie shares her heart for the church, her concerns about the current state of discipleship, and her hope for a more relational, Spirit-led approach to formation. The conversation weaves together theology, lived experience, and pastoral wisdom, inviting listeners to reflect on their own journey of life with God.

They also celebrate CSDA’s 15-year journey — a global community of over 1,000 spiritual directors committed to Christ-centered spiritual direction, shared theological grounding, and ethical practice through a common code of conduct.

This episode is a gentle yet clarifying invitation: to slow down, to notice God’s presence, and to allow transformation to emerge from relationship rather than effort.

In This Episode, We Explore

• The difference between knowing about God and living life with God

• Why many discipleship models struggle to produce lasting transformation

• How spiritual formation offers a more faithful and sustainable path

• Debbie’s group study, Life With God, and how churches are using it

• The vision and impact of the Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (CSDA)

• Why theological grounding and community matter deeply for spiritual directors

• Where Debbie finds hope for the future of the church

• The practices that continue to form Debbie’s own life with God

Learn More

• Grafted Life Ministries: https://www.graftedlife.org

• Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (CSDA): https://www.graftedlife.org/csda/home/

• Life With God study by Debbie Swindoll (available via Grafted Life)

Closing Reflection

This conversation invites us to reconsider what we mean by discipleship — not as mastery of content, but as apprentices participating in a shared life with God. May it encourage you to listen more deeply, trust the slow work of the Spirit, and remain open to the ongoing formation happening in you.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.