Growing outside the fence?

I saw a small palm tree growing outside of the fence of a garden nursery that grew palm trees and plants.

This small tree was growing and looked to be doing well even though it was outside of the care of the gardeners of that nursery.

Perhaps a palm tree seed had been blown by the wind or dropped by a bird outside of the garden nursery's enclosed fences.

Can we grow spiritually if we're planted and take root outside of a "nursery"?

A nursery could be a church, other ministry organization, or group whose main purposes are to plant people into the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ and help them grow. Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 13:18-19; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:13-14; 2:19; Jude vs.22-23

Are spiritual people supposed to be able to grow OUTSIDE of these nurseries' fences?

Those who have stopped going to church or other ministry meetings are sometimes spoken about in negative terms by pastors and other leaders.

Could it be true that some ministers think that if people are not listening to them, they won't grow spiritually?

These preachers' livelihoods and spiritual identities are often directly related to, "How many people are in your church?" as bank loan officers and others ask.

In other words, if a congregation's numbers are too small, their financial support usually is, too. This can make it difficult to get a loan.

It also won't impress people if ministers are asked what they do for a living.

"So, how big is your church?"

In the eyes of many, ministries need people in the seats and enough financial contributions to justify their worth, right?

CAN people grow outside of nurseries and SHOULD they?

Even if believers attend ministry meetings every day for an hour, which is rare, that would leave 161 hours in a week to grow on their own spiritually, work, eat, sleep, and engage in other activities.

Meeting attendance should NOT be the highest point of a believer's weekly life, should it?

I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise is always on my lips. Psalm 34:1

Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

But gathering together with other believers CAN BE important, too.

But encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called "today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13

And let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

An emphasis is on encouraging one another, a mutual give and take, Romans 1:11-12 NOT only listening to one person transmit a message to those who have come together.

What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

Those given special gifts of grace can equip believers and all can speak the truth in love to grow.

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive the captives, And He gave gifts to people." Ephesians 4:7-8

And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from Whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

There are other Bible verses on the value of spiritual meetings.

And here are a few others that describe an individual's ability to receive instruction outside of these nurseries, using time wisely. Ephesians 5:15-16

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I [John] have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 1 John 2:20-21

And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you remain in Him. 1 John 2:27

Jesus said, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you." John 14:26

Jesus said, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." John 16:13

If the Scriptures are God-inspired and are profitable for believers, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 how many minutes do we spend reading, studying, and thinking about these words each week OUTSIDE of the nursery?

Usually, no one is forcing us to NOT use the Bible in our personal time.

We could be growing outside of meetings.

Then if ministries would begin to follow the New Testament pattern of full, voluntary participation, 1 Corinthians 14:26 any willing believer would be allowed to encourage (draw near others to the Lord) Hebrews 3:13 and provoke them to love and good works during meetings WITHIN the nursery. Hebrews 10:24

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 1 Corinthians 14:1

What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification. 1 Corinthians 14:26

I [Paul] myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Romans 15:14

Therefore, comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18

Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Spiritual growth is NOT that hard. Philippians 2:12-16

A little bit of spiritual thought, reading, praying, and sharing throughout our day will eventually develop in us a measure of living as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6

We can draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to us. Hebrews 10:22; James 4:8

Growth INSIDE spiritual nurseries and OUTSIDE of them, too, will work together for us to become beautiful gardens and buildings of God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:9, 11

Your thoughts?

R. Jason