Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ~ Colossians 2:6-7 ESV
The ACORN Model™ is a Spirit-led framework centered on the idea that spiritual growth is a cyclical journey where an internal, Holy Spirit-inspired work leads to an external, tangible action from the disciple. This is the practical expression of walking in Christ, as the verse above commands.
The Internal-External Dynamic
This isn’t just a simple cause-and-effect relationship; it’s a dynamic, cyclical process where the internal spiritual work fuels and informs the external actions, and in turn, the results of those actions deepen the internal state. It is how we live out our identity as a new creation, rooted in Christ’s character and love, built up in His knowledge and truth, and established in a faith that produces real, tangible fruit.
- Internal Work (Holy Spirit-Led): Transformation is initiated by the Holy Spirit. This is not about self-help or behavior modification, but about a surrendered heart that is receptive to God’s revelation.
- External Response (Disciple-Activated): The disciple’s role is to respond to this internal work with intentional, tangible actions. It is through our active participation and stewardship that spiritual growth is sustained and flourishes.
Here is a breakdown of the relationship between each of the spiritual rhythms in the ACORN Model™:
Awareness & Assessment
Awareness is the internal impetus, rooted in the Holy Spirit’s work. It’s the moment of divine illumination where a person recognizes their spiritual state, their need for God’s grace, and the areas in their life that don’t align with God’s will. It is the beginning of the journey of being rooted in His truth.
Assessment is the external action. It is the practical, tangible act of prayerfully examining one’s life in light of that new awareness. This is the first step in being built up in Christ.
Conviction & Commitment
Conviction is the internal impetus. It’s the deep, unshakeable persuasion of God’s truth in the heart—an inner knowing that moves beyond intellectual assent. It is the Spirit’s work to ensure our roots go deep.
Commitment is the external action. It is the willful, tangible decision to align one’s life with that conviction through baptism, joining a community, or a personal pledge. This is a public declaration of being established in your faith.
Obedience & Organization
Obedience is the internal impetus. It is the heart’s posture of willingly submitting to God’s will, a moment-by-moment response to the Holy Spirit’s leading. This internal posture shows that the roots of your faith are strong.
Organization is the external action. It is the practical stewardship of time, resources, and gifts to live out your obedience. It ensures your spiritual growth is established in a sustainable way.
Reflection & Refinement
Reflection is the internal impetus. It is the intentional pause to look back on your life with a discerning and grateful heart, asking where you have seen God’s hand at work. This introspection helps you find out where your roots are strong and where they need to go deeper.
Refinement is the external action. It is the practical process of making adjustments based on your reflection. Refinement is the continuous course correction that ensures your life remains aligned with God’s will, helping you to be continually built up in Christ.
New Identity & Navigating Next Steps
New Identity is the internal impetus, the culmination of the work done in the previous stages. It’s the deep, settled belief that you are a new creation in Christ, a child of God, no longer defined by your past sins or failures. This is a profound change in self-perception that proves you are rooted in Him.
Navigating Next Steps is the external action. From this place of secure identity in Christ, you can confidently and prayerfully move forward. This isn’t about frantically figuring out your life’s purpose; it’s about trusting the Holy Spirit to guide you toward the people, opportunities, and ministries God has for you. It’s where discipleship blossoms into a life of purpose, abounding in thanksgiving.