Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Segment 1: • Is Christian fiction with magic (like Narnia and Lord of the Rings) acceptable—or is it just as problematic as Harry Potter? • Can someone be a true Christian while denying the New Testament is divinely inspired? • After years of disrespect, how can I show my husband my new heart of submission? Segment 2: • How can I practically “study” my future wife to love her well in marriage? Segment 3: • Why don’t pastors preach more clearly about ghosts and spirits of the dead? • How should I handle lust while dating a godly woman? • How should a man respond when married to an emotionally abusive narcissist who hides it from everyone else? Segment 4: • Is it appropriate for women to teach boys and girls in junior high youth group? • How should a woman living in adultery respond when her kids call out her broken marriage? • Is “husband of one wife” a qualification or a command—and can a single man be an elder? • How do I counsel women who wrestle with God allowing their suffering? ___ 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: • Tucker Carlson challenges Ted Cruz on Israel—reveals confusion on biblical promises. • The Abrahamic Covenant still stands; God’s plan for Israel isn’t revoked. • If you quote Scripture, know the context—big promises carry big implications. Segment 2: • Is support for Israel about the government or God’s chosen people? • MacArthur: Christians have a biblical obligation to care for the Jews. • There’s clarity: God has unfinished business with national Israel. Segment 3: • Word of the day: Censoriousness — being hypercritical and condemning. • Jonathan Edwards warns: a censorious spirit rushes to judge others’ salvation. • Watch for petty criticisms over non-essentials—it’s a sign of pride, not discernment. Segment 4: • Edwards exposes how uncharitable hearts destroy grace-filled relationships. • Do you judge people harsher when they struggle with sins you’ve overcome? • A jealous, suspicious spirit betrays a lack of gospel charity. ___ 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! Todd Friel is at Georgia Tech where he talks with four students about Christianity, repentance, the significance of Easter, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the episode, Todd emphasizes the importance of the gospel, the need for forgiveness, and the role of Jesus Christ in salvation. Segment 1: • Student claims to believe in Easter but doesn’t know why the resurrection matters. • Admits he’s never really examined Christianity or the reason for Jesus’ death. • Politely disengages without much spiritual interest. Segment 2: • Student who is from Maryland was raised Christian but avoids saying Jesus is the only way. • Hesitant to call other religions false, even while affirming Christianity for himself. • Struggles to boldly proclaim gospel exclusivity despite claiming personal faith. Segment 3: • Yoni proudly identifies as practicing Jew but admits breaking God’s laws. • Rejects the idea of needing a Messiah, preferring personal responsibility for his sin. • Hears how Old Testament sacrifices point to Jesus, but remains unconvinced. Segment 4: • Rex boldly affirms Jesus as Lord but initially struggles to explain why. • Learns how the law exposes sin and why people need forgiveness, not just a better life. • Gets coached on using the Ten Commandments to make the gospel urgent and personal. ___ 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: • False teacher Kathryn Krick is drawing crowds with emotional spectacle and “miracle” theatrics. • People are chasing feelings, not truth—spiritual highs can’t sustain faith. • Discernment means anchoring in truth, not seeking constant emotional adrenaline. Segment 2: • Calling out false teaching doesn’t make you sexist—it makes you biblical. • Rick Joyner defends a predator pastor—what does that reveal about NAR leadership? • Wolves in sheep’s clothing prey on the vulnerable under the guise of “healing.” Segment 3: • Church bells silenced in the UK—are we watching faith erased from public life? • What was once a symbol of worship is now seen as a nuisance. • Losing tradition often signals something deeper: the collapse of community and conviction. Segment 4: • Catholic bishops sue over mandatory abuse reporting—calling it a threat to religious freedom. • This isn’t just legal—it’s moral: should silence ever protect sin? • Also: new Fortis podcasts that confront cultural chaos with 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: • “No Kings Day” raises deeper questions—do we actually want a King? • In a world of political chaos and rising persecution, Christians must remember: Jesus reigns. • America may reject kingship, but your soul was made to serve one. Segment 2: • Brandon Lake says it’s time to ditch hymns—revealing our shallow view of worship. • Small churches are stronger in faithfulness; megachurches invite spectators, not soldiers. • The therapy trend among pastors points to a deeper crisis of biblical confidence. Segment 3: • Brandon Lake performs emotional worship on American Idol—but where’s the theology? • Worship isn’t therapy—it’s truth that transforms. • Weak worship might be what’s weakening the church. Segment 4: • Luther Seminary in MN is shutting down—another sign of theological decay. • A filed-away statement of faith is not the same as actually teaching truth. • Even when institutions collapse, Christ remains faithful. ___ 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: • Jesus broke my porn addiction and restored my marriage—what hope is there for other men? • My husband says he doesn’t love me and left—how do I respond biblically? Is it wrong to be angry? Segment 2: • Why do we say “the Holy Spirit” but not “the God” or “the Jesus”? Does the article matter? Segment 3: • How do I encourage my new wife to stay in the Word when she works grueling shifts? • If I disagree with MacArthur’s study notes, am I a heretic? Segment 4: • Are there physical copies of Scripture in heaven? • As a Christian in authority, how do I fire people without compromising my witness? • Can someone preach truth but fail to glorify God? • Do angels have free will like humans? ___ 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: • SBC fails (again) to pass the Law Amendment affirming only qualified men as pastors. • Historical cracks in this area have led entire denominations astray—are we next? • “Affirming but not affirming” language is the same tactic used in gender debates. Segment 2: • If churches are being disfellowshipped for female pastors, why not codify the standard? • Fear of man, cultural compromise, or fear of shrinking numbers? • SBC votes to keep the ERLC—why are we funding institutions that reflect the culture more than Christ? Segment 3: • Newsboys singer admits years of sinful living—how should Christians respond? • Discernment needed: are we gossiping or redeeming? • Real repentance or damage control? How we judge reveals more about us than them. Segment 4: • Can someone live in unrepentant sin for 20 years and still be a believer? • The key question isn’t “when were you saved?” but “are you saved right now?” • Deception is powerful—and the local church is the safeguard God provides. ___ 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! Todd Friel is back on campus at Georgia Tech. His discussions revolve around topics such as religion, atheism, the existence of God, evolution, personal beliefs, and moral judgment under the Christian framework. Todd uses various analogies and biblical references to argue for Christianity while addressing the contrasting views on religion and science held by the students. Segment 1: • Former Methodist student wrestles with whether belief itself—regardless of truth—has any value. • Agrees that justice requires judgment but hesitates to apply it to himself. • Gets walked through conscience-based questions and admits he’d be found guilty—yet clings to a vague hope in divine leniency. Segment 2: • Student hears a crystal-clear gospel: forgiveness comes only through Christ, not good behavior. • Initially says he agrees with “parts” of Christianity—until pressed on why he’s never trusted Jesus. • The sticking point? He prefers sin over surrender and doesn’t want a God who tells him how to live. Segment 3: • Breakdancer and self-described atheist challenges the idea of creation with science-based objections. • Admits to lying, stealing, lusting, and using God’s name in vain—but still thinks deep down he’s a good guy. • The gospel is presented as the only solution to his guilt, yet he dismisses it as someone else’s belief system. Segment 4: • Final student is told, point-blank: if God is just, you’re in big trouble. • Still insists he’s “a good person deep down,” despite confessing to fornication, blasphemy, and more. • Hears the full gospel and acknowledges its power—but ultimately says it doesn’t align with his logic or desires. ___ 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 • Antisemitism rises, misgendering becomes criminal, and colleges now teach “adulting” classes. • Todd presents a cultural “train wreck” and asks: which story screams “sign of the times” to you? • Moral confusion and soft totalitarianism are growing fast—can you spot the symptoms? Segment 2 • Emergency contraception at gas stations and cannabis replacing alcohol—what could go wrong? • Porn companies block France over age laws—are they protecting kids or profits? • Cultural boundaries are evaporating. Are you ready to raise your kids in this world? Segment 3 • Preaching isn’t just explaining—it’s exalting Christ with urgency and clarity. • Many pulpits today sound more like seminary lectures than soul-stirring sermons. • Want transformation, not just information? The Bible must be preached with purpose. Segment 4 • Psychedelic drugs are trending in Silicon Valley as faux spiritual awakenings. • Divorce leaves a wake—5 million kids show long-term damage in new study. • The culture offers altered states and broken homes—how should the Church respond? ___ 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: • Todd reflects on the beauty and order of Huntsville, AL—and what that reveals about respect. • Jason Allen preached Psalm 88: the darkest psalm has layers of hope beneath the surface. • The Bible trains us to look beyond what’s visible—to see purpose behind pain. Segment 2: • Todd returns from Alabama to a banquet and a full sermon on Genesis 3. • God’s patience in the garden reveals His heart—judgment delayed isn’t judgment denied. • If we didn’t know David was “a man after God’s own heart,” would we believe it? Segment 3: • A teen girl describes detaching from her body at 13—drugs, diagnoses, and confusion followed. • Screen time and puberty form a toxic mix that rewires young minds. • Parents must guard their homes—discipline digital habits before culture does it for you. Segment 4: • Digital addiction has made basic real-world interaction a struggle—especially for kids. • Some schools now issue “no-contact orders” to help students navigate friendships. • Before cutting social media cold turkey, consider how the Gospel shapes wise boundaries. ___ 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!