Sunday Sermon, 19 April 2026

Sunday Sermon, 28 June 2026

The Fourth Sunday after Trinity, St Andrew’s Church, Sedbergh You can read the sermon below, or listen here: Sunday Sermon Revd Andy Burgess Download [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/623c8e24f4e2297e0b304845/t/6a414ad4dd06b257a5960e44/1782663900630/Sermon+28+June+2026.m4a] A reading from St Paul’s Letter to the Romans Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6.12–23 NRSVA   Sometimes an instruction can be difficult to understand or be liable to misinterpretation. I remember a motorcyclist telling me about the time he was venturing off the beaten track in the Lake District. When he came across a road sign that said “Push Bikes Only”, he obediently got off his motorbike and started pushing it along the track, until he realised it meant only bicycles were allowed! In our reading this morning from St Paul’s letter to the Romans, we’re given an instruction that can be difficult to understand. We’re told to ‘present our members to God as instruments of righteousness’. It’s worth spending a moment to think about what this teaching means, and its implications for us today. The word ‘members’ in this passage is referring to the body – literally, our limbs and organs – our arms, legs, heart, and so on. He is affirming the importance of our bodies. Sometimes people have the idea that Christianity is just interested in the spiritual and has little regard for matter. But this is a later distortion. Authentic Christianity emphasises the importance of every bit of us, from the hairs on our head to the toes on our feet. God cares about the whole of you. Our bodies are to become ‘instruments of righteousness’. The point here is that what we do with the body matters. Just as an instrument like a piano can be played harmoniously or discordantly, so our bodies can be used for good or for evil. In fact, the word ‘instrument’ is probably better translated as ‘weapon’, which heightens its impact. We have great responsibility in the way that we use our bodies. The same hands which can bring harm can also bring healing. In short, the instruction to ‘present our members to God as instruments of righteousness’ is telling us to offer our whole self to God. We are to consider in every moment how our body, mind, and soul, can be equipped and put in service of righteousness, in order to extend God’s love and care into all parts of creation. As it is expressed in a famous poem often attributed to St Theresa: > Christ has no body now but yours, > No hands, no feet on earth but yours, > Yours are the eyes with which he looks > compassion on this world. > Christ has no body now on earth but yours. ---------------------------------------- This is an exciting and liberating thought of St Paul, because it gives meaning and purpose to every part of our lives. It tells us that there is nothing which is outside the scope of holiness. Every area of life may be sanctified when we present our whole selves to God. Of course we do not do this in order to gain merit before God or win brownie points. Paul is emphatic that we receive eternal life as a free gift from God. Rather, it is because we have been saved from slavery to Sin and brought into the realm of grace that we are enabled to use our bodies for good. Furthermore, we must recognise the great diversity of embodied life within the church. God has made us all differently, with unique abilities, limitations and experiences. The church has too often overlooked or marginalised disabled people and others whose gifts are not always recognised. In a community of grace, we are invited to offer our whole selves to God for his glory, in mutual dependence upon one another. Whether giving or receiving, our discipleship depends not upon our own abilities, but upon the Spirit’s gifts of faith and holiness. ---------------------------------------- As I close, here are just some of the ways that we can present our bodies to God as instruments of righteousness: In community life, we can honour and respect others with our bodies, by being present and giving our full attention. We can show care and affection with a hug, or offer a listening ear on the phone. In the workplace we can be diligent and courteous, communicating well and working hard to support our colleagues. Whether engaged in manual labour or in a desk job we can view our work as an offering to God. When we gather for worship, we can kneel before God in prayer, or raise our hands in praise. When we share in Christ’s body and blood, we engage the senses of taste and touch. When we have free time, we can be grateful for the gift of the body – whether enjoying a walk in the dales, or the fun of playing sport or exercising with others. We can express our creativity through craft, music, and the arts. We can explore the life of the mind by using our intellect and emotions to probe the mysteries of God and wrestle with the big questions of life. And when life is difficult, and we particularly feel the limitations of our bodies, we can exercise faith and remember our Christian hope in the redemption of all things. Above all, we are called to use our bodies for good, as instruments of righteousness, in ways that bless others and bless God. May we remember that our common life together is an embodied life, and may we seek to protect and nurture each member of Christ’s body in all we do. Amen.

Sunday Sermon, 21 June 2026

The Third Sunday after Trinity, Cornerstone Community Church, Sedbergh You can read the sermon below, or listen here: Sunday Sermon Revd Andy Burgess Download [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/623c8e24f4e2297e0b304845/t/6a37cc016a46d849d184d3dc/1782663742846/Sermon+21+June+2026.m4a] A reading from St Paul’s Letter to the Romans What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6.1–11 NRSVA   Many people who lived through the second world war developed what is sometimes called a ‘wartime mentality’. This was when the habits that were necessary in wartime were so ingrained they persisted in later years, long after rationing had stopped and ‘make do and mend’ was no longer necessary. My father-in-law grew up in a household dominated by ‘wartime mentality’. He remembers that years after the war had ended, his parents still drew blackout curtains at dusk every evening, and held onto a set of gas masks just in case. He remembers having to unthread old woollen jumpers that had holes in them, in order to reuse the wool. And he also remembers that when you got to the end of a milk bottle, you had to rinse it with a little bit of water, and use that in your tea to make sure you get every last drop! This was frustrating to a teenager in the 1960s, who could see that the world had moved on, and many of these behaviours were no longer necessary.  The point is, of course, that behaviours and habits which are natural in one context, may not be in another. A ‘make do and mend’ attitude that is necessary in wartime can be dispensed with in peacetime. When a person’s life situation changes, so too do their patterns of behaviour. ---------------------------------------- In chapter six of St Paul’s magisterial letter to the Romans, he wants his hearers to understand that, in Christ, everything has changed – and therefore we should expect our behaviour and ethics to be transformed as well.  To follow St Paul’s argument in this chapter, we have to appreciate that he uses what is sometimes called ‘apocalyptic’ language. (Buckle up!) In ‘apocalyptic’ thought, there are two aeons, or ‘ages’. The present evil age is ruled over by spiritual powers and authorities, sometimes referred to by Paul as Sin, Death, and Evil. The future age to come is ruled over by God, and is the age of the Spirit, an age of love, peace, and justice. In the present age, humans have been enslaved under the spiritual power of Sin. ‘Sin’ isn’t simply the bad things that we do. It is a spiritual power which actually controls and enslaves us. And we are helpless to escape the power of sin ourselves. However, Christ rescues and saves us by coming into our world, defeating the spiritual powers and authorities through his death on the cross, and rising to new life. In his resurrection, Christ brings the life of the future age to come into the midst of the present age. The key thing for Paul is that we now have access to the age to come through Christ. When we put our faith in Christ, we participate spiritually in his death and resurrection. Because Christ has died to Sin, so we also die to Sin. This, according to Paul, is the meaning of baptism. We are no longer slaves to Sin, held under its power. We have been set free, to live for Christ. And we look forward with hope to the day when we too will share in Christ’s resurrection life. Just as there are patterns of behaviour which are natural in wartime, but which are out of place in peacetime, so we must no longer act according to how things were – when we were enslaved under sin – but must rather act out of the way that things now are – in our freedom in Christ.  The change that Christ brings about is greater even than that between wartime and peacetime. To borrow an image from the letter to the Colossians, Paul wants his listeners to realise that they have been transferred from the ‘dominion of darkness into the kingdom of light’. From darkness to light, from war to peace, from death to life – this is the transformation Christ has brought about. ---------------------------------------- St Paul’s apocalyptic thought can sound quite strange to us when we listen to it with modern ears. What exactly does it mean to participate in Christ? How are we to make sense of this vision of spiritual powers and authorities that enslave humanity and hold us hostage? But as strange as it may sound, I want to suggest a way in which it enriches a Christian understanding of our world and the church. In church tradition, this chapter has often been debated and reflected on from an individualistic perspective – asking questions about Christian holiness in our personal lives. In future weeks we will consider this aspect further, as we move through chapter 6 and into chapter 7. But I want to focus this morning on what is paramount for Paul – our corporate life together as the church. It is interesting that in Romans, Paul always addresses the whole church, not simply individuals. So we must begin with the church. There are many lenses through which the church can be viewed. Some view it simply as a special interest group, or a members club for like minded individuals. Some view it through a business perspective, seeing it as something which needs to be marketed and ‘sold’ to people. Sometimes it is simply viewed as an ancient and crumbling institution, a relic of the past that may or may not need preserving. The way we imagine the church will affect the way we talk about it and the way that we treat it. [https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623c8e24f4e2297e0b304845/951ea7ed-fd7e-484b-9bb1-b9e3da0cc959/p17_dave-walker_rebranding.jpg?format=1000w] This is amusingly shown in Dave Walker’s cartoon ‘Rebranding the Church’, which pokes fun at our attempts to view the church as an outdated institution that just needs a rebrand. The mundane advice includes ‘hold a meeting’, ‘look in a book of fonts’, and ‘appoint a committee to thrash out the detail’! But St Paul’s apocalyptic vision of the church is much more exciting and dynamic than these portrayals. In the midst of the present evil age, which is dominated by spiritual powers and authorities, Paul views the church as gaining access to the future life of the age to come. Through the church’s participation in the body of Christ, it has access to the life giving power of the Spirit. It is an outpost of the Kingdom of heaven on earth. The church is nothing less than a renewed and restored humanity. For Paul, this is signified in the sacrament of baptism. Baptism provides a metaphor for the church’s participation in Christ’s body. “Do you not know” he asks, “that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3 NRSV). When we see the church in these terms, we cease to see it as a human institution or creation, and recognise it as a crucial part of God’s unveiling of his plan for the world. ---------------------------------------- This apocalyptic view of reality also makes intuitive sense as we look around our world today. In so many areas, it can feel as though things are out of control. Conflict zones experiencing intense war with no end in sight. Extreme weather conditions caused by global warming that cause drought and suffering amongst the poorest. And social media algorithms that seek out and amplify the most extreme voices in a high pitched shouting match. From Paul’s perspective, these are signs that supernatural forces are using and exploiting this instability, to keep humanity imprisoned in cycles of violence and hatred. If this is true, then the opportunity the church provides to participate in the life of the one who has overcome these powers is compelling. Just as great as the contrast between wartime and peacetime, so is the new life that is offered in the church. Paul encourages us to recognise that through participation in the death and resurrection of Christ, we have been released from the state of slavery, and given new life. We have been empowered with the Holy Spirit, and given the hope of future resurrection life. Paul’s language in this passage is full of life: we are called to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4 NRSV), and to consider ourselves “alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11 NRSV). ---------------------------------------- In conclusion, the church is much more than simply a club or historic institution. St Paul encourages the church to recognise that in Christ, it is a new creation. Before I close, there is a note of caution to sound. For all that the apocalyptic mindset gives us, it is just one of the viewpoints found in scripture, and along with its strengths it does have some weaknesses. Throughout history, Christians have assumed they can easily identity the supernatural powers that Paul speaks of, and end up condemning things they don't understand as ‘demonic’. This is an area that requires discernment, where we must not be quick to rush to judgement.  There is also the problem that some Christians have always been convinced that the end is just around the corner, and an overemphasis on the apocalyptic mindset can cause the church to ignore its duty to the world in the present. But for all these problems, we cannot finally let go of St Paul’s apocalyptic vision. Rather than making us arrogant and proud, it ought to humble us, and remind us that there is more to reality than meets the eye.  And it ought also to encourage us to seek refuge in Christ our saviour. It recognises that there are powers at work in this world that are greater than humanity's ability to resist.  But praise God that in Christ we have a saviour. In Christ, fear is cast out by love, and we stand in the grace and assurance of our future salvation.  May we recognise our mutual life in the Spirit, as we are called to put away competitiveness and hostility, and to be a community of peace and love – a new humanity. Amen.

Sunday Sermon, 14 June 2026

The Second Sunday after Trinity, St Andrew’s Church, Sedbergh You can read the sermon below, or listen here: Sunday Sermon Revd Andy Burgess Download [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/623c8e24f4e2297e0b304845/t/6a31111670a8271656906be4/1782041537875/Sermon+14+June+2026.m4a] A reading from St Paul’s Letter to the Romans Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5.1–8 NRSVA   Last month, a friend and I went to see Paul Simon live in concert in Liverpool. It was a great gig! But I was aware what a privilege it was. As we arrived at the venue we had to show the tickets that gained us access. Although we went for the most affordable seats, they were still expensive, and out of the reach of many people. As we entered the vast arena, we could see the premium front row seats that cost even more. As I looked up to the luxury corporate booths, I saw business people and executives who had access to complimentary tickets out of the reach of us ordinary folk. And of course, there are always those lucky few who get to go backstage and meet the performer themselves. This is just one example of the many social hierarchies that shape and form our society. In every area of life, there are structures which privilege those who hold wealth, power, and status. This phenomenon has been referred to as the ‘Social Pyramid’ – a few at the top, with the majority at the bottom. It was even more pronounced in the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago, when St Paul wrote his letter to the Christians living in Rome. The emperor was at the top of the pyramid, and the vast majority were at the lowest levels, living in poverty, or close to it. In their day, as in ours, they knew that access to the best that society offers was only available to the privileged few. ---------------------------------------- This is why St Paul’s letter to the Romans is like a lightning bolt from the sky, which challenges and subverts the traditional power structures. In it, he preaches a radical new message – the idea that access to God and the spiritual life is in no way limited by human social expectations or achievements. Rather, it is open to all. He writes to the Romans that through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, “we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand.” (Romans 5:2 NRSVA) The language Paul is using here is reminiscent of a throne room. Usually only those who are worthy of honour are permitted to approach the sovereign. In our country, an audience with the King is the privilege of just a select few (although I know there are some in our congregation who have had the honour of meeting King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales!) But St Paul is teaching that access to God is open to all. We gain access to God not because of our own social standing, or our own achievements, or our own good deeds – it rests upon God’s love and initiative, and this access is offered to everyone through the preaching of the Gospel. It is summarised at the end of our passage this morning: “God proves his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. In the book of Romans, Paul takes time to explain that all humanity is in the same situation – we have all fallen short of God’s glory, we have all sinned, and the only way to be made right with God is not through our human effort, but through trusting in Jesus Christ. This is why it depends on faith, not works. God has made peace with us, through Christ, even though we don’t deserve it. All that is required of us is to accept the free gift, and to trust that we have access to God because of Christ’s saving work. ---------------------------------------- This is a radical message, both at the personal and the social level. It is significant personally, because it reminds us that God’s love for us doesn’t rest on our own good works or accomplishments. There are often times when we are tempted to feel that it is only a select few who are worthy to come into the presence of God, and kneel before his throne. Perhaps only those who are truly righteous, pious, or humble, like the great saints of old. Certainly not someone ordinary like me or you. After all, God sees into our hearts. He knows our deepest thoughts and desires, and we may feel deep down that we are not worthy of coming before him or gaining access to his throne. But this is precisely Paul’s point. It is in our weakness that God has opened a way for us to come before him. He removes our shame, he gives us a living hope, and he invites us into the heavenly places. We have free access to God, and this is received by faith as a gift, not through our own works. ---------------------------------------- This gospel message is also significant for society, because if all people have been offered access to God regardless of background or situation, it follows that we should seek to reflect this in society by removing the hierarchies and power structures which privilege just the few. This is one of the reasons St Paul is writing to the Romans. He is concerned that they have separated into different groups – Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, and what he refers to as the ‘strong’ and the ‘weak’. But the church is not meant to reflect social hierarchies. It is meant to be a place of radical acceptance and welcome, where we do not distinguish according to social status. In a world which now has its first trillionaire, it causes us to reflect on the gap between rich and poor. While we can be thankful that our society has historically valued universal access to education, healthcare, and opportunity, we must also recognise that our world remains deeply unjust in many ways, and the gap between rich and poor is increasing. As the church, the Gospel compels us to be concerned about these things. God’s love is made real and tangible in our love of neighbour and care for wider society. ---------------------------------------- I began by sharing my experience of a Paul Simon concert recently. I’d like to close with a thought from one of his later songs, called ‘Wristband’. In this song, he reflects on the way in which access is limited in our society to those with wealth and status. The chorus goes like this: Wristband, my man, you've got to have a wristband If you don't have a wristband, my man You don't get through the door. There are many doors which are closed to the poor and those of low status in our society. St Paul’s radical gospel message tells us that the most important door – the door to peace with God, and the gift of the Holy Spirit – is open to all. May our church become a place which reflects this generosity and openness. May we be excited to share the generous love of God with those around us. May we welcome one another as we have been welcomed by Christ. And may we delight in the grace in which we stand, and in the hope of salvation that we have been freely given. Amen.

Sunday Sermon, 24 May 2026

The Feast of Pentecost, St Andrew’s Church, Sedbergh You can read the sermon below, or listen here: Sunday Sermon Revd Andy Burgess Download [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/623c8e24f4e2297e0b304845/t/6a130411e33b461bb0be0be5/1781600496547/Sermon+24+May+2026.m4a] A reading from the Gospel according to St John On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.”’ Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7.37–39 NRSVA ---------------------------------------- Many years ago Joy and I went on holiday to Morocco. We were young and didn’t do much research when when planning our trip. We decided to go in the month of August, which was the hottest time of the year. And being eager to make the most of our trip and see all the sights, we ventured out in the midday sun. I remember feeling like I instantly wilted the moment we stepped outside. We found ourselves hopping from cafe to cafe just trying to keep ourselves hydrated. It didn’t take us long to realise the wisdom of those who waited to come out in the evening, when it was cooler and much more pleasant. In our Gospel reading this morning, Jesus says: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.” This is one of the primary spiritual metaphors that we find in John’s Gospel. Just as we might feel thirsty in a hot climate where water is scarce, so there are times when our soul becomes dry and arid, and we feel spiritually empty. In these moments, Jesus invites us to come to him and draw deeply from him. Christ is the sparkling fountain of life, who refreshes the soul, gives an assurance of God’s love, and provides meaning and direction in a difficult and confusing world. ---------------------------------------- It feels a particularly appropriate image for today. Many commentators have observed that contemporary society can feel like a desert place. The rise of modernity has uprooted local traditions and customs, and increased our sense of social isolation and loneliness. The climate crisis which is ravaging the earth is causing profound levels of anxiety and distress, especially amongst the young. And the prevalence of digital screens and the rise of AI is blurring the line between what is real and virtual, reducing our attention spans, and shaking the foundations of our common life. Today is the Feast of Pentecost, which marks the birth of the church two millennia ago. This was the day when the Holy Spirit – the ‘living water’ that Jesus speaks of – was first poured out upon the Apostles. And, from that day until now, the church is called to be a spiritual oasis in a dry and parched land. It is meant to draw people towards it as a place where deep questions and yearnings of the soul might be raised and explored. ---------------------------------------- It causes us to reflect on whether this is people’s experience of the church today.  I had a conversation with someone just this week who recognised her spiritual need, but didn’t feel she could find it in the church because of her past experiences. She had experienced the church as authoritarian, repressive, and unwelcoming. Rather than being an oasis in the desert, it was like a dried up well that offered no hope. This is an extreme example, and I am thankful that our local churches are welcoming places which seek to nurture faith. We can be encouraged that the Holy Spirit is active and at work in our churches and communities, as we grow in faith, hope, and love. There is a depth of genuine desire for God and a care for others that is very precious here. Events like our community BBQ this afternoon are evidence of care for our community. But a birthday is a good time to look in the mirror and ask the hard questions. The Church is almost 2,000 years old. Are there ways in which our habits and practices alienate rather than welcome? Are there places where the well has run dry? Are we willing to listen to valid criticism and be prepared to change? Is this a place where people can hear and encounter the invitation of Christ to find spiritual fulfilment? I am not suggesting that the church should market itself to contemporary society as just another lifestyle choice. I am also not suggesting we throw out the ancient practices of the church, or that we attempt a ‘rebrand’. Christianity declares that Jesus is Lord, and that Christ is on the throne. But our Living Lord sends his Spirit to challenge and rebirth the church in every generation, and so, on this birthday of the church, we must be alert and responsive to this. We ought to ask where the Spirit is leading us next, and be open to follow where she leads us. ---------------------------------------- Jesus says: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.” In this age of spiritual drought, may we respond to Christ’s invitation, and trust that in him, we may glimpse the divine and embrace the mystery of God.  As we come together in worship, let us pray for the empowering presence of the Spirit who causes streams to flow in the desert. And as we share in bread and wine as our Lord commanded, may we be nourished by the Living Water of Christ, as it pours through our lives and churches, into the soil of our culture, and springs forth flowers of God’s love in the wilderness.  Amen.

Sunday Sermon, 10 May 2026

Low Smithy Chapel Anniversary and Farewell Thanksgiving Service For the final service in Low Smithy Chapel, we were glad to welcome Geoff Park as our guest preacher. You can listen to his sermon below. Sunday Sermon Geoff Park Download [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/623c8e24f4e2297e0b304845/t/6a00b5585375d140d8b09a13/1778431337942/Sermon+10+May+2026.m4a] A reading from the Gospel According to Luke When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: ‘A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.’ As he said this, he called out, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that “looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.” ‘Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance. Luke 8.4–15 NRSVA