Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Wait a minute — that’s not Todd! Today on Wretched Radio, Fortis Institute Fellow and The Better Way host Libby Glosson steps in as guest host to help us think about emotions and the role they play in the life of a Christian. Segment 1 • Culture pushes emotional extremes: either vent everything or suppress everything. • How should Christians think about emotions and emotional struggles? • Are we discipling our emotions biblically, or letting culture shape them? Segment 2 • Bible doesn’t say “suck it up” – instead, submit emotions to God’s Word. • Sin can be internal—fear, anger, despair can dishonor God before action. • Goal: sanctified emotions—Spirit-enabled responses that glorify God. Segment 3 • Danger of the opposite ditch: emotional indulgence and exhibitionism. • Culture says “follow your heart”—leads to gossip, ranting, victimhood. • True modesty: fade to the background, count others more significant. Segment 4 • Emotional exhibitionism = emotional immodesty; both dishonor God. • Public venting and oversharing dishonor family and relationships. • Sanctification includes emotions: Christ is reshaping minds, wills, and hearts. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

It’s Witness Wednesday! In today’s episode, Jimmy fills in for host Todd Friel as we listen to several interactions that Ray Comfort of Living Waters had with college students at Cal State Fullerton. Segment 1 • Alex admits he’s agnostic, has used God’s name in vain, and is living in sexual sin. • Ray walks him through the Ten Commandments to show his guilt before God. • Ray also speaks with student Val who claims to be a bisexual and questions the Bible’s stance on homosexuality. Segment 2 • Saul challenges God’s justice, asking why an all-powerful God would allow suffering. • Ray exposes Saul’s own sin using the law, then warns of God’s wrath and points to Jesus as the only escape. • Saul remains defiant, claiming fear of death doesn’t prove God—but admits he is afraid to die. Segment 3 • A group of students challenge Ray on murder, immigration, LGBTQ issues, and abortion. • Ray stands firm: all sin must be judged, but forgiveness is freely offered through repentance and faith in Christ. • Ray consistently redirects to the gospel, urging students to consider their eternal state and the gift of salvation. Segment 4 • Ray talks with student Jake who says he “grew up Catholic”. • Another student, Sophia, challenges Ray on the propriety of the death penalty. • Ray turns Sophia’s challenges back to the law and the gospel. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1 • Many Christians struggle with assurance, but God wants us to be certain. • Sin doesn’t erase salvation—our hope rests in Christ, not in the size of our faith. • True assurance comes from union with Christ, not feelings. Segment 2 • Lack of assurance often pairs with spiritual depression. • Depression doesn’t mean someone isn’t a believer; many Christians quietly carry this weight. • Common roots vary, but biblical clarity brings hope. Segment 3 • New Fortis series by Dr. Greg Gifford exposes the rise of psychiatric control over many believers. • Clifford Beers’ reforms medicalized the mind, blurring distinctions between brain, mind, and soul. • Meds can’t reach the soul; only the gospel addresses the heart’s deepest needs. Segment 4 • Pastors are called to shepherd their flock, but many turn to psychiatrists. • Symptoms may be treated, but deeper, root issues remain untouched by much secular psychiatry. • Dr. Greg Gifford addresses these issues and many others in new series, “Life Without The Numb”. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1 • Ray Comfort preaches with TPUSA on campus, later appears on Fox News. • Ray skillfully pivots every question back to the gospel. • Refuses to get pulled into distractions—stays laser-focused on Christ. Segment 2 • Ray’s tone is winsome yet bold. • Pushback comes when preaching hell, but he still lands the gospel. • Challenge: if you live near a campus, why not go witness too? Segment 3 • Too many pastors treat their people like they’re unintelligent. • Ben Shapiro praises John MacArthur’s depth. • Sin leaves believers unsettled—don’t numb yourself to conviction. Segment 4 • A faithful preacher makes truth reachable but stretching. • Al Mohler warns of America’s cultural dumbing down. • Even in healing debates, the question is clear: do we trust a logical God? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Segment 1 • What do you mean when you say that God desires tear-filled converts instead of fear-filled converts? • Why don’t you use illustrations or personal stories in your preaching? Segment 2 • Should Christians leave bad business reviews if a company wronged them? • Are women as deacons biblically supported? Segment 3 • What should a church member do if they discover their pastor is using AI to write or heavily edit sermons? • Is anointing your home with oil a biblical practice or superstition? Segment 4 • What counts as “secondary issues” in theology? • Why would you attend a Catholic funeral but not a Catholic wedding—what’s the difference? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1 • Sermons used to be long and weighty—now they’re shallow. • Why do we tolerate hours of football but squirm after 20 minutes of preaching? • Lloyd-Jones and Packer: urgent, doctrinal preaching isn’t optional—it’s essential. Segment 2 • Why do you go to church—and what do you expect? • Many show up with little thought, fueling shorter and shallower sermons. • Preparation matters: pray, take notes, engage your Bible, fight distractions. Segment 3 • Doctrinal truth without application leaves us wanting. • Head and heart can’t be separated—truth must move affections. • Don’t fall into ditches: emotionalism on one side, cold intellectualism on the other. Segment 4 • Taliban shuts down internet, silencing women and education. • Christianity uniquely dignifies women—seen even in witnesses to the resurrection. • True flourishing for women and children is found only in Christ. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

It’s Witness Wednesday! Join Todd at Kennesaw State University as he discusses truth, the afterlife, postmodernism, and the exclusivity of Christ with two college students. Segment 1 • Student Brittany says she makes her own rules and believes in evolution, reincarnation, and positive energy. • Todd walks her through the need for an objective standard of right and wrong. • He introduces God as a loving, just Creator whose laws reveal everyone’s guilt. Segment 2 • Todd shifts to a “cosmic courtroom” illustration, showing Brittany God’s perfect justice. • She admits she’d be guilty under God’s laws but hopes He’d “understand” human mistakes. • Todd explains why Jesus’ death satisfies God’s justice and saves sinners. Segment 3 • Erin studies sociology and blends Christianity with reincarnation-type thinking. • Todd challenges her postmodern thinking—truth isn’t personal, it’s either true or false. • Todd reasons that creation points to a Creator and presses her on who Jesus really is. Segment 4 • Erin shares she was baptized in 2020 but struggles with drifting from God in college. • Todd clarifies the difference between justification and sanctification. • He encourages her to rest in God’s love and let that motivate obedience instead of guilt. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1 • 1 in 5 U.S. adults now get their news from TikTok. • Kentucky church backs members in checking out LGBT books and not returning them. • A little girl is adopted into an all-male, three-parent household. Segment 2 • Hilary Clinton is still making anti-Christian and anti-white male remarks at 77. • Over 30% of university students believe violence is justified. • The U.K. names its first lesbian archbishop. Segment 3 • Muslim mayor in Michigan tells a Christian he’s not welcome. • Lawmakers propose a total porn ban in Michigan. • Burkina Faso passes a law banning sodomy — sharp cultural contrast. Segment 4 • AI “relationships” are growing but reshape morality and ethics. • Marriage is God’s school of character, shaping us through sacrifice. • Studies show AI use leads to more unethical behavior. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1 • Voddie Baucham’s legacy: a gospel preacher who made much of Christ, not himself. • His words at Shepherd’s Conference remind us that preaching must center on Jesus. • The loss of giants like Voddie raises a question: are we valuing our local pastors as we should? Segment 2 • Voddie left strong opinions that challenged us, from Lord’s Supper to worship practices. • His challenges forced believers to weigh Scripture over cultural norms. • Regulative vs. normative worship — his teaching pressed Christians toward biblical clarity. Segment 3 • Above all, Voddie loved proclaiming the gospel. • His appearances on The Biggest Question alongside Ray Comfort and E.Z. captured his heart for evangelism. • His passion was pointing people to Christ, not himself. Segment 4 • Voddie’s teaching on righteousness: Christ’s robe covers us completely. • He emphasized both Christ’s active and passive obedience securing our salvation. • Repentance and faith remain central — essentials we too easily overlook today. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Segment 1 • Why aren’t all your YouTube videos on Fortis+? • How can I stay informed on global Christian news and pray for the church more specifically? • Should Protestants evangelize Roman Catholics, or partner with them? • What’s the right approach if my pastor preaches something unbiblical? Segment 2 • My parents want to bury me in their family plot, but my husband wants us buried with his. How do I navigate this? Segment 3 • My sons and I are learning how to resolve conflict biblically through “Drive By Marriage”—but what does it actually look like to “take an argument to the cross” ? • I’ve tried everything to make Christian friends, but haven’t had much luck. What do I do? Segment 4 • Someone I know rejects penal substitution – is that heretical? • What’s your take on Pastor Mike Todd’s ministry and theology? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!