Wretched Radio with Todd Friel – Details, episodes & analysis

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 Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Segment 1 • What if Ray Comfort had debated those 20 atheists instead of Jordan Peterson? Would it have changed anything? • I'm a Bible college student struggling with shame and sexual sin—how do I move forward? • How can I help someone understand that how they dress actually matters? Segment 2 • A pastor at my church blocks me online and avoids me in person—what should I do? Segment 3 • Is my baptism still valid if it was performed by someone who later proved to be a false convert? • How should I think biblically about major life decisions like work, marriage, or school? Segment 4 • Is it wrong to leave your native culture for another one? • What encouragement do you have for lonely pastor’s wives? • I shared the gospel with a family member—should I speak again or just keep praying? ___ 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 • Is the rise of expository preaching putting the church in danger? Segment 2 • Does a devotional filled with Scripture automatically make it solid? • Does Satan really know us better than we know ourselves? • How do I keep my patience when everything in life seems frustrating? Segment 3 • If God is sovereign and good, does He ever “react” to situations? Segment 4 • After my death, does my husband have a biblical duty to care for my parents? ___ 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: • Education at Risk: It’s not just jingles—are cell phones making kids less engaged and more distracted? • New Policies, Surprising Results: Schools banning phones are seeing fewer fights and less cyberbullying. • More Focus, Less Chaos: Teachers report students are actually paying attention again—coincidence? Segment 2: • Strong Foundations Matter: Studies show faith and family contribute to better academic performance. • Then vs. Now: A math test from 100 years ago would stump most modern students—what changed? • Single Parents and the Struggle: Dedicated parents do their best, but the traditional family structure matters. Segment 3: • Cultural Suicide: Literal suicide rates are rising, birth rates are falling, and the traditional family is being rejected. • Anti-Child Society: Even after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, abortion rates are still climbing. • Legislation Can’t Fix the Heart: The real solution isn’t politics—it’s the regenerating power of the gospel. Segment 4: • Moral Decay: Sexual immorality, church closures, rampant divorce, and truth being subjective—signs of a dying society. • The Task of the Church: Evangelism and discipleship are the only real solutions. • A Glimmer of Hope: Nearly 800,000 downloads of the Bible App in a single day show people are searching for truth. • Band-Aid Solutions: As the world gets heavier, is an emotional support robot really the answer? ___ 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 at Kennesaw State University to engage students in conversations about faith, salvation, and their beliefs. Segment 1: • Michael, a self-professed Christian, struggles to clearly articulate what it means to be saved. • He expresses a belief in God’s forgiveness but also assumes good works play a role in earning salvation. • Todd challenges this view by emphasizing that salvation cannot be earned through works but is a gift of grace. Segment 2: • Todd explains the Gospel, highlighting Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as the only way to reconcile sinners with a holy God. • He uses analogies, like a courtroom trial, to show that human works cannot pay the penalty of sin. • Michael admits he hasn’t fully submitted his life to Christ, saying he is still waiting for the right moment to commit. Segment 3: • Thomas, another professing believer, shares his view that being a Christian involves doing good works to earn God’s favor. • Todd gently points out that relying on good works is contrary to the Gospel and shares how Jesus’ finished work on the cross is sufficient for salvation. • Thomas struggles with reconciling his actions with God’s grace, believing he must “earn” his place in heaven through obedience. Segment 4: • Todd explains the difference between works as a response to salvation versus works as a means of salvation. • He emphasizes that Christians obey God because they have already been saved, not to earn salvation. • Thomas begins to see that assurance and joy come from trusting in Christ’s finished work, not from striving to prove oneself to 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!

Segment 1: • Spiritual Check-Up: Are you missing a vital part of your Christian faith? Examine your motivations for godliness. • More Than Just Sanctification: In the pursuit of holiness, don’t forget to enjoy the transcendent and finest things God offers. • Jesus’ Desire for Your Best: Christ is zealous for you to experience not just good or better—but the best He has for you. Segment 2: • What’s Filling You? Just like your body, your soul reflects what you consume daily—less world, more God. • Purity and Pornography: Virgil Walker highlights the predatory nature of pornography; true freedom comes from obeying God. • Zeal for Your Purity: Jesus’ zeal for your holiness is as intense as His righteous anger in the temple—choose His way, the best way. Segment 3: • Life Begins at Fertilization: IVF deals with actual human life, not just potential—how do we reconcile this with biblical teaching? • Ethical Concerns: What happens to unused fertilized eggs? Good desires don’t justify unethical methods. • Image Bearers: Every fertilized egg is seen by God as an image bearer—are we treating them as such? Segment 4: • Facing IVF Head-On: Ignoring the ethical concerns of IVF is not an option—how should Christians respond? • IVF and Marriage: The practice of IVF decouples the one-flesh union of marriage, altering God’s design. • Shaping Worldview: By engaging in IVF, Christians may unknowingly affirm a secular, fragmented view of life and marriage. ___ 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: • Compromised Faith: Christians who sympathize with the world’s systems reflect “Stockholm Syndrome Christianity,” per John G. West, former professor at Seattle Pacific University. • SPU’s Roots: Founded in the Free Methodist system, but compromises have eroded its foundation. • Recurring Patterns: How Christian institutions can drift away from truth when cultural pressures take hold. Segment 2: • Generational Decline: Institutions go from affirming truth, to assuming it, to abandoning it entirely. • Women’s Roles: Compromise often begins with shifts in beliefs about women in ministry. • Lessons from SPU: A failure to uphold biblical patterns leads to cultural capitulation—how can we learn from their mistakes? Segment 3: • Everything Matters: Tasks like mowing your lawn reflect anthropology and God’s design for creation. • Higher View of Humanity: Even caring for our environment reflects biblical truths about man’s stewardship and dominion. • Architecture’s Impact: Thoughtful design isn’t just aesthetic—it increases productivity and reflects God’s order. Segment 4: • A World Gone Mad: THC beer, medicinal marijuana, and the normalization of sin signal a moral decline. • Purity is Allegiance: Virgil Walker argues the fight for purity isn’t about repression, but about loyalty to God. • Resources for Growth: Fortis is offering free study guides to equip Christians in their walk of faith. ___ 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 • Will we feel sorrow in heaven for loved ones who weren’t saved? • Is it biblical for a church member to run a business in the church basement? Segment 2 • Is the torment of hell inherent—or is God actively tormenting the lost? • Should I get rebaptized even if it causes strife with my parents? Segment 3 • What’s the difference between a false teacher and a false prophet? • How can I long for heaven without resenting life on earth? Segment 4 • Should AI play a role in sermon prep, or does it undermine biblical thinking? ___ 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: • Evil on Display: A female Episcopalian bishop with a pro-abortion stance gives a condescending “sermon” at the inauguration. • The Bigger Issue: No executive orders or modern self-focused ideals can fix what’s fundamentally broken—this is evil in action. • Satanic Semantics: The rhetoric and tone reveal the spiritual battle beneath the cultural facade. Segment 2: • The Gospel Missed? Todd critiques Joe Rogan’s conversation with Wesley Huff, noting a lack of a full gospel presentation. • Second Chance: Wesley Huff presents the gospel beautifully on the Julian Dorey podcast, reaching an unbelieving audience. • Forgiveness Costs: The gospel shows that forgiveness is costly and requires the ultimate sacrifice. Segment 3: • Judicial Truth: At its heart, the gospel is judicial—Jesus paid the penalty for sin. • A Bold Witness: Wesley Huff’s message emphasizes the countercultural truth that the first shall be last. • A Listening Audience: Julian Dorey admits he’s never heard the gospel before—highlighting the importance of clear evangelism. Segment 4: • Plenary Indulgences Return: The RCC declares 2025 the “Year of Jubilee,” with indulgences offered for the punishment of sin. • Biblical Misuse: Not every verse applies directly to us—be cautious of misinterpretations like this. • Theological Problems: Indulgences undermine the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross. ___ 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!