Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Segment 1 • Is there spiritual danger in letting my child be entertained by Star Wars? – Anonymous • What should I say to a man who is struggling to be a godly husband and father? – Ethan Segment 2 • Is Christian rap a net positive? – Anonymous • Should I leave my job because it celebrates transgender ideology? – Anonymous • Am I too old to start seminary at 58? – Ric Segment 3 • My pastor tore up a copy of the Bible as a sermon illustration. Is this helpful or disrespectful? – Anonymous • Should a woman attend a watered-down church in the interest of submitting to her husband? – Gary Segment 4 • What exactly is “fellowship” in the Bible? – Anonymous • Is it possible for us to overthink and therefore misunderstand a Bible passage? – Tristan ___ 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 • Gallup reports a growing exodus from church with a surprising population. • Churches pour energy into kids and young families but neglect the elderly. • Scripture calls the older generation essential — for wisdom, discipleship, and stability. Segment 2 • Topical preaching isn’t always wrong, but it’s risky when it replaces text-driven sermons. • The culture is catechizing your kids faster than the pulpit can. • Polls reveal Gen Z’s distorted view of marriage, kids, and purpose. Segment 3 • 690+ LGBT books in a single school district – this is cultural catechism in action. • Drag queens, “gender play,” and normalization of sin are targeting children. • The battle for your child’s worldview is being waged at story time. Segment 4 • Churches split over silliness: beards and whether the worship leader’s eyes were open. • Healthy churches handle conflict biblically—talk, forgive, reconcile. • How your church argues says more about its health than its attendance numbers. ___ 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 • Matthew bases salvation on “being good” and repentance through Roman Catholic sacraments. • Todd uses courtroom logic to show that God’s standard is perfect love of God and neighbor. • The tension becomes clear: Can a just God overlook sin, or do we need a savior who satisfies justice? Segment 2 • Todd presses Matthew on Ephesians 2:8–9, challenging his belief that works and sacraments contribute to salvation. • Matthew struggles to reconcile Catholic teaching with Scripture’s claim that salvation “is a gift… not of works.” • Todd introduces imputed righteousness, Christ’s perfect record credited to the sinner. Segment 3 • Matthew insists new birth happens after death, contradicting Jesus’ words that one must be born again now to enter God’s kingdom. • Todd urges him to “get downwind” of himself and see his true guilt before a holy God. • The call becomes personal: abandon self‑reliance, repent, and trust entirely in Christ for salvation. Segment 4 • Todd meets another student who is a professing Christian. This student struggles to articulate why someone should believe in God, relying mostly on logic and science. • Todd role‑plays an evangelistic conversation, demonstrating how to move past intellectual debate. • Ultimately, the student affirms repentance and belief in Christ as the way to be saved but reveals areas needing deeper gospel clarity. ___ 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 • Modern culture has made “safety” its idol; every discomfort is treated like trauma. • Scripture flips the script: danger isn’t just outside – it’s inside you. • If your biggest threat is the outside world, you’ll live in fear. If it’s your own heart, you’ll run to Christ. Segment 2 • “Safety-based” psychology is invading schools; students are learning to pathologize conviction. • Polyvagal Theory (born 1994) ignores man’s spiritual nature—an anthropological train wreck. • The Bible says transformation comes by renewing the mind, not regulating vagus nerves. Segment 3 • The real concern is kids weaponizing therapy language against parents. • Britain officially affirms cousin marriage—a symbol of moral decay in the West. • Even theologians like N.T. Wright drift from biblical authority, showing the slope is real. Segment 4 • Cousin marriage bans once built Western civilization—now they’re being reversed. • Germany’s “polyandrous priestess” and IVF jewelry reveal what happens when sacredness dies. • The decline isn’t just weird—it’s spiritual rot disguised as progress. ___ 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 • Polyvagal Theory is quietly infiltrating schools just like mindfulness and meditation did. • It seeks to explains the “fight or flight” response, but only addresses our physical body. • The deeper issue? Our slavery to sin and death. Segment 2 • Polyvagal Theory blames issues on perceived “lack of safety”, but the Bible says it’s sin. • It’s this type of thinking that has brought about the “safe space” trend. • Real, transformative healing begins at the heart, not the nervous system. Segment 3 • A bold woman asks Megyn Kelly: “Would you go to heaven tonight?” • Megyn’s unsure, yet searching and says she has been attending (a Roman Catholic) Church. • God wants you to be 100% sure — not just “hopeful.” Segment 4 • Mormon theology misunderstands baptism, family, and the afterlife. • Mormons tie heaven to family lineage — but God wants YOUR heart. • You can’t afford to miss the true gospel, and the Mormons get it wrong. ___ 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 • How should believers cope with the deaths of unsaved family and friends? — Isaac • Visiting our nephew’s church that permits women pastors (though the current pastor is male)—should we go? — Theresa • My church never preaches on sin—how do I raise this with my pastor? — Anonymous Segment 2 • Church discipline boundaries: hospital visits, counseling, and officiating weddings—what should a pastor do? — Anonymous Segment 3 • My parents feel unseen at a solid church—how do they build real connection? — Anonymous • Should I step back from opposite-sex friendships to prevent jealousy and avoid temptation? — AJ Segment 4 • Is forgiveness only granted when the offender repents? Responding to “squishy Christianity” claims. — Josh • If God isn’t the author of confusion, why is eschatology so hotly debated? — Anna ___ 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 a special Mailbag Thursday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Segment 1 • Am I truly forgiven after divorce, abuse, and years of regret? — Anonymous • Our pastor gave a different reason from the pulpit for another pastor’s removal—was that a lie or discretion? — Anonymous • Does God still “speak” today? Should I sit in silence to hear His voice? — Anonymous Segment 2 • 1 John exposes me—how can I rest if I don’t “pass the tests”? — Alex • Our church paused women-teaching-women—does that have any biblical basis? — Cala Segment 3 • What makes Eastern Orthodoxy heretical? — Joe Segment 4 • How can I defend against the Catholic belief that we do some good and Christ does the rest—and to those who say that’s not a big difference? — Anonymous • How important is it for a local church to serve the needy in its community? — Paul ___ 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! A sharp history student, Cole, wrestles with the resurrection, truth, and his own conscience—then a Hebrew Roots believer named Carlos questions Easter, church tradition, and the name “Jesus.” Segment 1 • A thoughtful agnostic history major explores the reliability of Scripture and the resurrection. • Todd walks him through manuscript evidence and eyewitness testimony. • Can Christianity stand the test of history? Segment 2 • The conversation turns from intellect to conscience—lying, lust, blasphemy, and guilt before God. • Justice and mercy collide at the cross as Todd explains how forgiveness is possible. • Will Cole see his need for grace? Segment 3 • The tension rises: evidence vs. surrender. • Todd reminds Cole that the Christian faith is intellectual, but it’s not JUST intellectual. • Todd urges Cole to respond before it’s too late. Segment 4 • A self-described believer rejects “Easter,” insists on “Yeshua,” and blends Hebrew roots with Christian faith. • Todd probes what’s behind the name debate and where saving faith truly rests. • Can focusing on details make us miss the gospel itself? ___ 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 do I avoid distracting others in worship? — Andrea • Cowboy hats and coffee during singing—disrespectful? — Ray Segment 2 • I’m 13 and scared I’m not truly saved—how can I find assurance? — Naomi Segment 3 • Can pastors/elders share confidential matters with their wives? — Jim Segment 4 • Is it biblical to “claim” or “declare” things in prayer? — Anonymous • Which current Bible translations should we avoid? — Mary ___ 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 a special Mailbag Monday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. T oday we discuss wise involvement in teens’ sports, whether quick sermon prep is solid or shallow, Christ-first fatherhood, and guiding cohabiting new believers with grace + truth. Segment 1 • How involved should dads be in their teen kids’ sports lives? – David Segment 2 • How long should I spend preparing a sermon? If sermon prep feels too fast, is that a red flag? – Zachary Segment 3 • How can I avoid idolizing my kids as a new dad? – Ryan Segment 4 • How should Christians respond when an unmarried couple gets saved and joins a small group? – Heather ___ 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!