Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Segment 1 • Can my weight discredit my witness? Should I stop evangelizing until I look “credible”? – Anonymous • How do I share the gospel with Mormon missionaries at my door? – Anonymous Segment 2 • Is my pastor plagiarizing sermons—or just being practical? – Pam • Does sin break my covenant with God until I repent? – Evan Segment 3 • Are generational curses real—or just spiritual anxiety? – Anonymous • Can I trust God with love again after betrayal? – Anonymous Segment 4 • Is a courthouse wedding dishonoring to God? – Gabrielle • Where should I start memorizing Scripture—and how do I keep it up? – Anonymous ___ 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 • Trump’s uncertainty about heaven reveals confusion over grace vs. works. • Roman Catholic Matt Walsh misrepresents Protestant assurance. • Assurance isn’t arrogance: true believers persevere because Christ keeps them. Segment 2 • Matt Walsh calls eternal security a modern invention—but church history disagrees. • Early church fathers affirmed God preserves His elect. • Works prove salvation; they don’t earn it—conditional security destroys peace and produces fear. Segment 3 • Scripture is overwhelmingly clear: God keeps those He saves. • Salvation rooted in Christ, not in your consistency or performance. • Assurance fuels holiness—fear-based religion produces exhaustion, not transformation. Segment 4 • God’s children never lose their adoption—salvation is irrevocable. • Adoption turns fear into confidence; believers can rest in the Father’s love. • Once declared His child, you can’t be “unadopted”—your security is sealed 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! In this episode of Wretched Radio, Todd Friel, Todd interviews a student named William at Kennesaw State University. William, a political science major and Marine, engages in a thought-provoking conversation about his faith, value system, and the significance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The discussion explores theological beliefs, the nature of God, human sinfulness, and salvation. Segment 1 • William describes his background, military service, and vague belief in “God and country.” • Todd challenges William’s notion of subjective truth. • William identifies as a Christian but admits to being unsure of the gospel and distant from church. Segment 2 • Todd presses William to articulate the gospel; William fumbles, focusing on general morality and Jesus’ teachings. • Todd walks him through God’s justice, sin, and the necessity of a Savior—not just moral improvement. • William acknowledges the significance but admits he rarely thinks about spiritual matters. Segment 3 • Todd walks through God’s standard of holiness, exposing sin through thought life and the Ten Commandments. • William admits guilt and agrees he’d deserve punishment if judged by God’s standards. • Todd explains penal substitution: Jesus took the wrath William deserves so he could be declared righteous. Segment 4 – What Does It Mean to Be Born Again? • Todd clarifies being born again: not baptism, but spiritual rebirth through repentance and faith. • William expresses openness but says he needs time; Todd warns delay is dangerous and urges urgent repentance. • Todd challenges William to respond to the gospel—not just ponder it. ___ 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 • Theology isn’t just intellectual — it should change everything about how you live. • Our eschatology teaches us to live with expectancy and purpose. • Even ordinary encounters (like dinner with Cody Rhodes) can remind us that what you believe shapes how you behave. Segment 2 • The postmodern church trades conviction for comfort—Jesus’ exclusivity gets downplayed. • “Nice” replaces holy: loose morality, shallow sermons, and emotional experiences over truth. • True churches teach on sin, repentance, and Christ alone—not self-help or motivational speaking. Segment 3 • Modern psychology can’t cure what’s spiritual—it ignores the biblical view of the soul. • Only the Word of God can transform the mind and bring real healing. • Life Without the Numb (now on Fortis Plus) exposes how our culture has redefined the mind. Segment 4 • What if we’ve accepted inferior solutions for our minds? • Real renewal happens when God’s truth—not therapy trends—shapes our thinking. • Life Without the Numb helps believers rediscover how God heals from the inside out. ___ 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 • Conflict is universal—but Scripture calls us to reconciliation, not mere peacekeeping. • The real issue isn’t the other person’s behavior; it’s the heart. • True biblical reconciliation begins with self-examination—owning your part before God. Segment 2 • Conflict isn’t caused by personalities—it’s fueled by idolatrous desires that demand control, comfort, or respect. • Even good desires become sinful when they replace God as the highest priority. • Real peace comes from surrendering our sinful desires and letting Christ rule the heart. Segment 3 • Repentance isn’t a one-time event—it’s the daily rhythm of the Christian life. • True repentance means more than “I’m sorry”; it’s a Spirit-led change of direction. • Without repentance, conflict festers; with it, relationships are restored stronger than before. Segment 4 • Forgiveness is the final step to true reconciliation—it mirrors God’s grace toward us. • To forgive repeatedly takes faith, but remembering how much God has forgiven you makes it possible. • Forgiveness frees you from the prison of resentment and rebuilds trust in God’s justice. ___ 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 • How can you pray meaningfully for people you don’t know well at church? – Adrian • Can true Christians still experience worldly sorrow—or is that a red flag? – Kyle Segment 2 • Did God ordain a tragedy like Charlie Kirk’s death—or merely allow it? – Daniel • How can you be a godly example for young relatives? – Joseph Segment 3 • A friend is rejecting Paul as Scripture—how do you respond? – Anonymous • Should every church be either sending or going in missions? – Josiah Segment 4 • How can my brother and I start making evangelistic videos to share online? – Alaina • A wife with spiritual trauma is unsure if her Bible study insights are trustworthy—how can she build confidence? – Andrew • How should I respond to a local anti-Trinitarian billboard? – Anonymous ___ 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! .

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!