"Listen! Once there was a man who went out to sow grain.

How happy everyone will be with plenty of water for the crops and safe pasture everywhere for the donkeys and cattle.

Those who hear the message about the Kingdom but do not understand it are like the seeds that fell along the path. The Evil One comes and snatches away what was sown in them.

Jesus answered, "The man who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man;

"This is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God.

So many people came together that there was no room left, not even out in front of the door. Jesus was preaching the message to them

When the true message, the Good News, first came to you, you heard about the hope it offers. So your faith and love are based on what you hope for, which is kept safe for you in heaven.

The gospel keeps bringing blessings and is spreading throughout the world, just as it has among you ever since the day you first heard about the grace of God and came to know it as it really is.

For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal.

but the word of the Lord remains forever." This word is the Good News that was proclaimed to you.