The condition of a person's heart influences his or her response to the gospel. Jesus illustrated this by describing the different types of soil on which a sower casts his seed, comparing it to our receptiveness to the message of the gospel. Today, Pastor Ron cautions against having a hard heart, a shallow heart, or a heart consumed by distractions. Jesus teaches that the seed that falls on fertile soil represents those who remain steadfast in their faith. The Christian walk is a marathon, not a sprint.