Explore every episode of the podcast Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Church can be messy. Todd tackles what happens when you feel invisible at church, disagree with your spouse on a major theological issue, or face a moral dilemma where someone else’s life is on the line.

Segment 1

• • Feeling ignored or left out at church? Should you stay or start looking elsewhere?
• • Could church cliques be driving young people away?
• • If persecution comes, will you be equipped to stand firm?

Segment 2

• • Should men serve in the nursery?
• • How much should your parents’ example shape the way you live now?
• • When does biblical wisdom go beyond finding an explicit verse?

Segment 3

• • Who should actually have the final say in a church—the elders or the congregation?
• • Should Christians say “namaste”?
• • Should Christians support rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem?

Segment 4

• • What if you discover after marriage that you disagree about female pastors?
• • Someone threatens to kill a loved one unless you deny Christ. What do you do?
• • Do you need to understand an atheist’s worldview before you can effectively share 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!

Greg Gifford fills in for Todd to tackle a problem that can quietly divide a church: treating every disagreement like it carries the same biblical weight. Which truths demand a fight—and which ones might require you to simply let it go?

Segment 1

• • Is your church preference becoming more important than it should be?
• • When should you speak up—and when should you keep your opinion to yourself?
• • Not every theological hill is worth dying on.

Segment 2

• • Which doctrines actually define Christianity?
• • Can someone be confused about an essential doctrine without denying it?
• • What happens when fog machines get treated like the Trinity?

Segment 3

• • Are female pastors, baptism, and homeschooling all the same kind of disagreement?
• • Some “secondary” doctrines reveal something much bigger underneath.
• • Why does questioning Scripture so often become the first step toward unraveling everything else?

Segment 4

• • How strongly should you hold an opinion when Scripture isn’t equally clear?
• • Sermon length, music, dress, parking—are you willing to divide over any of them?
• • Greg gives you a framework for deciding which hills are actually worth fighting over.

___

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 and Greg Gifford take questions from college students who aren’t afraid to ask about the issues Christians actually wrestle with—from therapy and anxiety to spiritual dryness and suffering.

Segment 1

• • Does a Christian need Jesus and therapy?
• • What’s the real difference between Christian counseling and biblical counseling?
• • Can the Bible really address trauma, addiction, and pornography?

Segment 2

• • If Jesus changed your anxiety or depression, how do you talk about that without confusing it with the Gospel?
• • What do you do when trusting God feels harder than it sounds?
• • Can suffering actually expose what you’re depending on?

Segment 3

• • How do you help a struggling friend without trying to become their counselor?
• • What does it actually look like to surrender anxiety to God?
• • Could believing your own thoughts be part of the problem?

Segment 4

• • Is there a better way to read your Bible than just checking off chapters?
• • What do you do when the cross starts to feel familiar instead of amazing?
• • Is your media diet killing your appetite for 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!

Greg Gifford fills in for Todd to rethink some common assumptions about missions. Who should go, how should they prepare, and could Christians be making the whole thing more complicated than it needs to be?

Segment 1

• • Are parents unintentionally talking their kids out of missions?
• • Does serving overseas really require giving up your career?
• • What if the traditional missionary model isn’t your only option?

Segment 2

• • What does biblical counseling have to do with the Great Commission?
• • Missionaries aren’t the only people overseas who need discipleship.
• • Could a skill you already have meet a major need on the mission field?

Segment 3

• • Can you meaningfully serve people across the world without moving there?
• • What does “teaching them to observe” actually require after someone is converted?
• • Your 9-to-5 may be more useful to missions than you realize.

Segment 4

• • Do missionaries need formal training before they go?
• • Think you’re called to missions? Your pastor may see something you don’t.
• • Who takes care of missionaries when they’re the ones who need help?

___

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!

Greg Gifford fills in for Todd to challenge the way we think about missions—and show how your job, skills, and even your season of life could open doors you haven’t considered.

Segment 1

• • Why are fewer young Christians heading to the mission field?
• • Could parents be unintentionally discouraging their kids from missions?
• • What if you could serve overseas without quitting your career?

Segment 2

• • Could biblical counseling be one of the most overlooked opportunities in missions?
• • You may already have skills desperately needed around the world.
• • What if your job could become part of your missions strategy?

Segment 3

• • What if you could serve people across the world without leaving your home?
• • Your language skills, career, or discipleship experience may be more useful than you think.
• • Before quitting your job for missions, Greg has a very different suggestion.

Segment 4

• • Think God may be leading you toward missions? Where do you start?
• • Why your pastor should be one of the first people you talk to.
• • Don’t know exactly how it would work? That may not be a reason to stop pursuing 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!

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Segment 1

• • How does a single mom handle a 17-year-old son who continually lies, resists her authority, and seems headed in a bad direction? — Melissa

Segment 2

• • After leaving a church because of failed church discipline and spiritual abuse, how do we keep from becoming bitter and hypercritical of our next church? — Caitlin

Segment 3

• • If Christians should help immature believers grow, how does that fit with Paul becoming “all things to all people” in 1 Corinthians 9? — Edwin

Segment 4

• • My professing-Christian husband regularly uses foul language, often with anger, and says the Bible doesn’t forbid it. Does it? — Beth

___

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!

Todd sits down with Brad Bigney to tackle some of the marriage advice that sounds completely backward to our culture—and maybe even to you. What if the things you’re holding onto are the very things keeping your marriage from thriving?

Segment 1

• • What if your expectations of your spouse are actually hurting your marriage?
• • The surprisingly ordinary things that can make—or break—a marriage.
• • Some popular Christian marriage advice may be reinforcing the problem.

Segment 2

• • What are you afraid will happen if you really give yourself to your spouse?
• • Brad reveals the seemingly good thing that nearly wrecked his own marriage.
• • There’s a line struggling couples have to cross. Have you crossed it?

Segment 3

• • You moved out years ago—but have you actually left Mom and Dad?
• • When does honoring your parents start interfering with your marriage?
• • Your kids can become too important. Here’s how to know if they have.

Segment 4

• • Why do some couples divorce after 30 years together?
• • Staying married and building a marriage aren’t necessarily the same thing.
• • What do you do when you keep giving—and your spouse doesn’t give back?

___

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 is at Georgia Tech showing how simple it can be to start a Gospel conversation—and how to respond when someone thinks they’re a good person or that all religions might ultimately be true.

Segment 1

• • Want to share the Gospel but never know how to start the conversation?
• • Todd tries something remarkably simple: skip the segue and just ask.
• • What do you say when someone doesn’t believe in hell—or doesn’t even know what the Gospel is?

Segment 2

• • Can someone be “born a Christian” simply because his parents are Christians?
• • What if religion is useful to someone—but he isn’t convinced it’s actually true?
• • Todd shows how to move from “I’m a good person” to the real problem every sinner faces.

Segment 3

• • Paul thinks the answers to life’s biggest questions are somewhere inside himself. How would you respond?
• • What matters more: your standard of goodness or God’s?
• • Todd takes Paul from “make yourself better” to the heart of the Gospel.

Segment 4

• • Todd approaches Daniel with no segue whatsoever. Does it work?
• • Daniel thinks different religions may be saying basically the same thing. How would you respond?
• • If two religions contradict each other, can they somehow both be true?

___

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!

You can be completely convinced you’re right—and still be wrong. Todd and Dr. Adam Tyson tackle what happens when personal convictions become biblical mandates, Christian liberty starts dividing the church, and obeying the government conflicts with obeying God.

Segment 1

• • Being completely convinced about something doesn’t make it a biblical conviction.
• • How do you know when Scripture gives a command—and when you’re turning a preference into one?
• • Could your “convictions” actually be hurting unity in your church?

Segment 2

• • Vaccines, masks, homeschooling, vacations—what happens when your thing becomes everyone else’s thing?
• • If the Bible doesn’t make a law, are you allowed to?
• • You’ll never find the perfect church if everyone has to make the same decisions you do.

Segment 3

• • When should Christians submit to the government—and when should they refuse?
• • What if obeying the government means disobeying something Scripture commands?
• • Where does the government’s authority end and the church’s authority begin?

Segment 4

• • Should Christians try to influence government—or try to Christianize it?
• • What happens when political priorities begin competing with the church’s actual mission?
• • Your view of the end times may shape your politics more than you realize.

___

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!

You can know your Bible, go to church, and genuinely love Christ—and still have spiritual problems you don’t recognize. Todd diagnoses four subtle issues that may be affecting your walk with God more than you realize.

Segment 1

• • Is there a disconnect between what you believe and how you actually live?
• • You know God loves you. But have you learned to actually enjoy His love?
• • One of these problems may explain why your Christian life feels more detached than it should.

Segment 2

• • How does truth about God actually get from your head to your heart?
• • One question could completely change the way you read your Bible.
• • There may be a theological reason you struggle to believe God really loves you.

Segment 3

• • Do you enjoy watching people you disagree with get absolutely torched?
• • There’s a difference between necessary confrontation and loving the fight.
• • Your motive for confronting someone may reveal more about you than you realize.

Segment 4

• • Is online gambling really just harmless entertainment?
• • The massive growth of sports betting should make Christians ask some uncomfortable questions.
• • If gambling gives you a rush, what does that reveal about your heart?

___

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 questions should I be asking if I’m interested in dating a girl who’s a Messianic Jew? — Jonathan • My church’s music is showy and the preaching isn’t very exegetical. Is that enough reason to leave? — Ryan Segment 2 • How does a wife biblically submit to a husband who has proven himself foolish with finances? — Anonymous • When should the men and elders of a church step in to protect and care for a woman struggling in her marriage? Segment 3 • I suffer from a debilitating condition that makes it nearly impossible to work or keep up with things around the house. Am I the sluggard Scripture warns about? — Tom • When you physically can’t do what you want to do, how should the church come alongside you? Segment 4 • My epilepsy medication keeps me from feeling joy. If I can’t experience the joy of Christ, am I still saved? — Joe • Is it wrong to turn the Bible into a sport through Bible quizzing? — Anonymous • Should churches ask someone with disruptive Tourette’s to leave the sanctuary during the service? — Anonymous Preorder Todd Friel’s new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ 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!

Is Christian nationalism the biblical answer to a culture moving further from God? Todd works through Phil Johnson’s case against Christian nationalism, examining Scripture, church history, political power, and what Jesus actually commissioned His church to do. Segment 1 • What did John MacArthur really mean when he said there is “no such thing” as Christian nationalism? • How can you distinguish ordinary Christian patriotism from Christian nationalism? • The movement has some troubling voices, but Todd says there’s an even bigger problem: Is it biblical? Segment 2 • What happens when the church gains the political power to enforce Christian values? • Christian nationalism isn’t new. What can its track record teach us? • Before embracing a “Christian nation,” consider what happened when Christians actually tried to build one. Segment 3 • Who is supposed to establish Christ’s kingdom on earth: the church or Christ Himself? • Are Christians fighting a political war or a spiritual one? • Laws can restrain evil, but can political power actually change the people you’re trying to change? Segment 4 • Was Jesus a Christian nationalist? His response to Peter’s sword offers an important clue. • Want a more moral country? Changing behavior without changing hearts won’t get you there. • Todd offers a different strategy for creating a more Christian nation: go make disciples. Preorder Todd Friel’s new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ 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 at Georgia Tech! Todd talks with students about faith and politics, whether science could eventually disprove Christianity, and why an emotional response to the gospel isn’t necessarily conversion. Segment 1 • Should your faith shape your politics, or should the two stay separate? • What does your everyday life reveal about what you actually believe? • Being sorry for your sin isn’t the same as being saved. So what is? Segment 2 • If science explained what ancient religions attributed to gods, could Christianity be next? • How would you answer someone who asks, “Why is your religion right and everyone else’s wrong?” • What makes Christianity radically different from every works-based religion? Segment 3 • Can you actually prove to someone that God exists? • Your conscience tells you something about yourself you may not want to admit. • If everyone deserves judgment, how can God forgive anyone and still be just? Segment 4 • Wearing a cross doesn’t mean you understand what happened on it. • Think you’re good enough for heaven? Here’s the problem with that. • Why Todd won’t lead someone in a sinner’s prayer, even when they appear ready to respond. Preorder Todd Friel’s new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ 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!

Today’s headlines raise some big questions. What happens when uncomfortable facts become off-limits, men increasingly struggle to find work, and Christianity’s exclusive claims collide with “all roads lead to God”? Segment 1 • How can AI be genuinely useful without becoming something you rely on too heavily? • If God ordains everything, does that make Him responsible for evil? • How do ultimate, proximate, and efficient causes help explain God’s sovereignty over a world where evil exists? Segment 2 • A church plays Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” on a pipe organ. What belongs in a worship service? • Do archaeological discoveries and holy sites strengthen our faith, or has God already given us something more certain? • Why has LGBT identification risen so dramatically in America, and how much does cultural affirmation play a role? Segment 3 • Nearly all recent U.S. job growth reportedly went to women. What happens to a society when men increasingly struggle to find work? • A Virginia school district tells teachers not to associate 9/11 with Islam. Can you teach what happened without addressing the attackers’ religious motivation? • When does legitimate criticism of a religion get wrongly dismissed as “Islamophobia”? Segment 4 • Jane Fonda challenged the Archbishop of Canterbury with a question that sounds like it could have been asked today: aren’t there many valid ways to God? • Why wasn’t “Jesus is the only way” the Archbishop’s immediate response? • Fifty years later, what can this exchange teach Christians about responding clearly to religious pluralism? Preorder Todd Friel’s new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ 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!

What makes a sermon truly powerful? Todd reflects on Tim Challies’ preaching, explains where he differs with John Mark Comer on spiritual disciplines, and shares an important lesson from Challies about trusting God when suffering doesn’t make sense. Segment 1 • What gives a sermon real “oomph”—powerful delivery, great writing, or something more? • Tim Challies shows how a soft-spoken preacher can still deliver a sermon with serious impact. • The goal of preaching isn’t impressive oratory—it’s to help you see Christ more clearly and love Him more. Segment 2 • Todd compares Go Serve Your King with John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way. Where do their approaches differ? • Should spiritual disciplines produce an integrated Christian life—or should knowing and loving Christ drive those disciplines? • What’s the difference between systematic, biblical, and historical theology, and how should theology actually change you? Segment 3 • When someone is suffering, even good theology can be delivered at the wrong time. • Tim Challies shares lessons learned through the devastating loss of his son about grief, comfort, and simply being present. • You may never see the good God brings from your suffering in this life—do you still have reason to trust Him? Segment 4 • Do you constantly wonder, “Am I really saved?” or “Have I repented enough?” • Your feelings aren’t a reliable measure of your salvation—so what biblical signs should you look for? • How trusting Christ and leaning on your local church can help break the cycle of constantly questioning your salvation. Preorder Todd Friel’s new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ 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 • My mother-in-law is an Anglican deaconess who preaches and is becoming increasingly liberal. Are we obligated to keep confronting her about our disagreements, or should we let it go and pray for her? — Amanda Segment 2 • We want to raise our two young boys to be godly men. How do we work on their hearts instead of just modifying their behavior, and what should we use for Bible study at their age? — Sam • Is there a place for topical preaching, or should preaching always be expository? Is listening to topical sermons for targeted growth wrong? — Alex Segment 3 • What is presuppositional apologetics, and why can using it in evangelism make people angry? — Shantai Segment 4 • What can Penn Jillette’s reaction teach us about how we use presuppositional apologetics in evangelism? • How should we deal with anti-Semitic thinking that seems to be appearing in Christian circles, especially when it enters the local church? — 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!

Can you be a faithful Christian without being committed to a local church? The very real problem of church hurt raises another difficult question: if a church has deeply wounded you, where do you go from there? Segment 1 •Kevin DeYoung answers the Christian who says, “I don’t need to go to church.” • The church is a body, a building, and a bride—why does each picture matter? • Does the Great Commission actually support Christian nationalism? Segment 2 • Church hurt is real—but should it cause you to abandon the local church? • Kevin DeYoung explains why you can’t separate Jesus from His body and bride. • Been burned by a church? Here’s what to look for when finding a healthy one. Segment 3 • A double-murder case is dismissed because the accused is mentally incompetent—what about justice for the victims? • Transgender procedures for children compared to circumcision. Does that comparison hold up? • What happens when a culture loses a biblical understanding of human value? Segment 4 • Why is Britain teaching asylum seekers that rape and sexual harassment are crimes? • You can impose rules—but can laws create moral people? • How religion shapes culture—and why that should motivate Christians to evangelize. ___ 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! Why should we care about people we’ve never met? At Georgia Tech, Todd challenges students to explain compassion from an evolutionary worldview, then talks with a Catholic student about purgatory, repentance, and what separates the Gospel from religious works. Segment 1 • Why should you care about someone suffering 5,000 miles away? • Can evolution provide a consistent reason for compassion and self-sacrifice? • You don’t have to evangelize like Todd—find your own “fishing hole” and start with one person. Segment 2 • A Catholic student admits God isn’t the number-one affection in his life. • If we’ve broken God’s law, should we expect heaven—or judgment? • Is purgatory the answer to our guilt before a holy God? Segment 3 • Knowing Jesus died on the cross isn’t the same as being born again. • What do repentance and faith actually look like? • Todd explains the crucial difference between the biblical Gospel and trying to earn salvation through religion. Segment 4 • One student thinks Christianity is basically karma: do good and good will come back to you. • “I’m not that awful of a person.” But what does God’s standard reveal? • Christianity isn’t about good people earning heaven—it’s about guilty people being saved by 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!

Christian nationalism promises a more Christian society—but is giving the government power to enforce Christianity actually biblical? Todd looks at what Scripture and history have to say before turning to a $17 million child sponsorship controversy and some troubling church news. Segment 1 • Is it time for Christians to finally render a verdict on Christian nationalism? • Where does the Bible actually tell the church to impose Christianity through the state? • Why Todd believes Christian nationalism is creating real problems inside local churches. Segment 2 • Christian nationalism has been tried before—what can we learn from the results? • If the government enforces Christianity, who gets to decide which version of Christianity wins? • Todd argues Christians should invest their energy in the Gospel rather than political power. Segment 3 • A Christian band reportedly made $17 million promoting child sponsorships—but is that actually wrong? • Would you accept a cut every time someone sponsored a child because of your endorsement? • Before rushing to judgment, there may be another side to this controversial arrangement. Segment 4 • When does a paid ministry endorsement cross the line from legitimate business to something unseemly? • Thousands of persecuted Christians desperately need refuge—are we remembering our suffering brothers and sisters? • Raves at St. Paul’s Cathedral—and another warning about mixing church and state. ___ 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!

The popular story of the Crusades says Christians were the aggressors—but is that what actually happened? Todd separates history from myth before turning to some of the biggest struggles Christians face today—and how you can become better equipped to help someone who is hurting. Segment 1 • Were the Crusades really an unprovoked Christian attack on the Muslim world? • Discover the centuries of history that often get left out of the story. • The one fact about the Crusades worth remembering the next time someone brings them up. Segment 2 • Were Crusaders really greedy opportunists looking to get rich? • Why were men willing to risk bankruptcy—and face staggering casualty rates—to participate? • Did the Crusades create Muslim hostility toward Christians? The timeline tells a different story. Segment 3 • Assurance, anxiety, pornography, comparison, loneliness—are you equipped to help someone who is struggling? • Learn how to address real problems without twisting Scripture to fit someone’s “felt needs.” • Someone opens up to you about a serious struggle. Here’s what not to do first. Segment 4 • Can genuine Christians struggle with doubt? Absolutely—and how you respond matters. • What should you say when someone tells you they can’t “feel” God’s presence? • Learn to ask better questions and point struggling Christians toward what will actually strengthen them. ___ 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 is your opinion on the Book of Enoch? — Anonymous Segment 2 • From what I’ve seen, a church evangelism program goes nowhere if the lead pastor isn’t actively involved. Do you agree? — Jay • Should I stay at and get baptized in a Bible-believing church that sings Hillsong and sometimes lets women read Scripture, lead prayer, and welcome the congregation? — Ella Segment 3 • Is reflexology a sin? — Nancy • Is it a sin to clip your fingernails in the office? — James Segment 4 • Would you consider “Make Evangelism Great Again” (MEGA) as a merch idea? — Brian • How can I respond biblically when I feel overlooked, less valued, or less capable than someone else without becoming discouraged or obsessed with proving myself? — Tom • What do you think about gospel tracts disguised as $5, $10, and $20 bills? As a former server, I loathe them. — 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!

Kids are being told transition will solve their distress—and sometimes that the alternative is suicide. Todd examines the stories of two young people who were swept into transgender ideology and later rejected it, revealing how schools, social media, peers, therapists, and doctors can influence vulnerable kids. Segment 1 • Layla Jane began questioning her gender after years of emotional struggles. • Social media helped convince her that transitioning could be the answer. • At just 13, she underwent a mastectomy. Segment 2 • What wasn’t Layla told before taking testosterone and having surgery? • Transition promised happiness—but it didn't resolve her underlying struggles. • Todd examines the evidence surrounding puberty blockers and youth mental health. Segment 3 • Simon Amaya Price describes the brokenness that preceded his transgender identity. • School and online influences gave him a new explanation for his struggles. • How does transgender ideology spread among vulnerable teenagers? Segment 4 • Simon says nearly every professional he encountered affirmed his transgender identity. • His father said no to medical transition—and Simon is now grateful he did. • What should parents and churches learn from these stories? ___ 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 at Georgia Tech! Could you explain the gospel if someone put you on the spot? Todd talks with Christian students, tackles tough abortion questions, and challenges an atheist who thinks good people go to heaven. Segment 1 • A Christian physics student sees evidence of a Creator everywhere—but can he clearly explain the gospel? • Why understanding our sin is essential to understanding the love of Christ. Segment 2 • Todd gives a group of Christian students 60 seconds to convince him to become a Christian. • Is telling someone “God loves you” enough—or are we leaving out the very reason Jesus had to die? Segment 3 • Is abortion ever justified because of rape, incest, disability, or difficult circumstances? • Todd brings the debate back to one fundamental question: What is the unborn child? Segment 4 • An atheist thinks Christianity is about being good enough to get into heaven. Is that actually the gospel? • Todd challenges his claim to being a “good person” before explaining why salvation isn’t something we can earn. ___ 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!

Biblical preaching should give you more than a few helpful ideas for the week. Todd contrasts expository preaching with the me-centered “TED Talk” approach, offers a biblical grid for evaluating worship music, and tackles a listener’s question about whether women should serve Communion. Segment 1 • Todd introduces the heart behind his new book, Go Serve Your King. Pre-Order today at FortisInstitute.org/King • Why your faith shouldn’t occupy a separate spiritual category from your work, money, recreation, family, and everyday responsibilities. • Christianity isn’t a checklist. Learn how ordinary faithfulness in the life God has already given you can glorify your King. Segment 2 • What’s the difference between biblical expository preaching and a Christianized TED Talk? • Does your pastor begin with what God has said—or with a topic, felt need, story, or cultural trend? • Todd gives seven questions you can use to evaluate the preaching you hear every Sunday. Segment 3 • Todd examines Andy Stanley’s sermons and asks whether they’re teaching you the Bible—or simply teaching you Andy Stanley’s ideas. • Is your worship music primarily about God and His glory, or about you and your experience? • Five questions to consider when evaluating whether the songs your church sings are biblically faithful, God-centered, and appropriate for congregational worship. Segment 4 • A missionary planting an underground church challenges Todd’s view on women administering the Lord’s Supper. • Does Scripture actually require elders or men to distribute Communion—or are we turning a biblical pattern into a rule? • Should women read Scripture in the gathered church? Todd considers where participation ends and teaching authority begins. ___ 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!

Australia is making public evangelism increasingly difficult, many churches say they value evangelism but have no real plan to do it, and plenty of Christians simply don’t know how to start a gospel conversation. Evangelist Andrew Walkington joins Todd to explain what’s happening in Australia—and how ordinary Christians can become more confident sharing their faith. Segment 1 • What is it like trying to evangelize in a country where public preaching and even handing out gospel tracts can be restricted? • Andrew explains how changing Australian laws and culture have forced his ministry to rethink open-air evangelism. • Why the freedoms American Christians still have should motivate us to make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel. Segment 2 • What’s one of the simplest ways to become better at evangelism? Ask questions. • Why are university students increasingly willing to have long conversations about God, truth, and what they believe? • Learn how asking someone what they believe—and why they believe it—can naturally open the door to the gospel. Segment 3 • Most churches say evangelism matters—but how many are actually equipping Christians to do it? • Can someone know all the right Christian language and still not understand the gospel? • Why you should keep asking questions even after someone tells you, “I’m a Christian.” Segment 4 • How do you turn an ordinary conversation with a coworker, neighbor, or stranger into a spiritual conversation? • Why asking a spiritual question shouldn’t become an excuse to immediately switch into “preacher mode.” • Learn how to challenge someone’s worldview without humiliating them—and why apologetics should always serve the ultimate goal of sharing 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!

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Segment 1 • What do you think about churches using a website like Ministry Imprint to identify spiritual gifts and ways people would be good at serving? — Trevor • Several older men at my church are Freemasons, including deacons who influence the pastor. What should we do? — Audrey Segment 2 • Our church sign says, “Our church is like fudge...sweet with a few nuts.” Thoughts? — Marion • My pastor doesn’t like the term “Christian” and prefers “believer” or “follower.” Am I off base for being concerned? — James • Some people say, “It only has to be in the Bible once to be true.” Is there a name for that biblical hermeneutic? — Troy Segment 3 • What are your thoughts on Anglo-Catholicism? — JJ • What do you think about the little rubber Jesus dolls Christians are handing out? — Kelli • Should Christians be vegans? — Courtney Segment 4 • Is Allie Beth Stuckey a solid biblical woman for other Bible-believing women to listen to? — JoAnna • Can you define complementarianism and explain why you aren’t patriarchal in your view of men’s and women’s roles in the church? — Anonymous • My family went to the zoo and the animal cages had preferred pronouns listed on them. Thoughts? — 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!

What do you do when God gives you news you never wanted? And what can churches learn when a respected ministry collapses? Todd looks at trusting God through suffering, the fallout from G3 Ministries, and how churches can pursue accountability without overreacting. Segment 1 • Phil Johnson’s cancer has returned—and the prognosis isn’t what anyone hoped to hear. • How should Christians respond when God gives us circumstances we desperately wish He would change? • What does it actually look like to trust that God is good even when His plans aren’t ours? Segment 2 • Phil Johnson once argued that evangelical Christianity may be in even greater need of Reformation than the church was in Luther’s day. • Could a modern-day Reformation even happen in a culture flooded with Christian influencers and competing voices? • Todd examines troubling anti-Semitism within some corners of Christian nationalism—and why forgetting history can have dangerous consequences. Segment 3 • G3 Ministries is gone after another controversy—but Todd believes an innocent pastor’s reputation was unfairly damaged along the way. • When does legitimate concern cross the line into publicly besmirching a brother? • What can Christians learn from accusations that Todd says never should have escalated the way they did? Segment 4 • After another ministry scandal, what can your church actually do to keep its leaders accountable? • Should pastors have additional safeguards, regular reviews, and greater transparency—or can accountability measures go too far? • Why no policy or system can completely protect a church when someone is determined to deceive. ___ 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! What do you say to an atheist who demands evidence for God, someone searching for the right religion, or even a professing Christian who thinks he can earn his way to heaven? Listen in as Todd demonstrates how to challenge unbelief and move conversations toward the gospel. Segment 1 • Todd meets Jay, an atheist who questions how God’s omniscience can coexist with human free will. • What evidence can you give someone who insists there’s no reason to believe in a Creator? • See how Todd moves from intellectual objections to the conscience and the reality of coming judgment. Segment 2 • Etienne is searching for answers but isn’t convinced heaven and hell are real. • What makes Christianity different from Islam and other religions that promise a path to paradise? • Learn how to explain the difference between trying to earn salvation and receiving forgiveness through Christ. Segment 3 • A Baptist student says he hopes he can earn his way to heaven. • How do you help a professing Christian recognize that being good and saying “I’m sorry” isn’t the gospel? Segment 4 • Todd returns to Jay, the atheist, who is actively trying to convince other students to reject God. • Can an atheist worldview provide an objective foundation for right and wrong? • What should you do when someone isn’t interested in listening and only wants to argue? ___ 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!

Pornography is increasingly becoming a struggle for women—but what’s really driving it, and how can Christian women fight it? Todd sits down with Fortis Fellow and biblical counselor Libby Glosson to discuss what’s happening beneath the surface and the hope found in Christ. Segment 1 • Why are more women consuming pornography—and has our culture encouraged women to adopt some of the worst behaviors of men? • What are women really seeking through pornography: intimacy, acceptance, love, or escape? • Why pornography is ultimately more than a sexual problem—it’s a heart and worship problem. Segment 2 • Why “just stop it” and shame aren't enough to produce lasting change. • How wrong beliefs about God's goodness, holiness, and character can fuel sexual sin. • What practical steps can women take without ignoring the deeper desires of the heart? Segment 3 • What's the difference between wanting freedom from consequences and genuinely wanting to repent? • Can repeated sexual sin dull a Christian's conscience? • How do you uncover what's really driving a recurring struggle with pornography? Segment 4 • What should you actually do when temptation hits? • Why fighting pornography may require dealing with escapism, discontentment, ingratitude, and entitlement. • In the moment of temptation, the ultimate question is: Will you love Christ more than your sin? ___ 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!

Grace Community Church has named John MacArthur’s successor, while another controversy surrounding G3 Ministries raises serious questions about church leadership and accountability. Segment 1 • Grace Community Church announces Nathan Busenitz as its new pastor following John MacArthur. • Why Todd believes GCC handled this enormous transition well. • Nathan Busenitz examines capitalism vs. socialism from a biblical worldview. Segment 2 • Is capitalism actually more biblical than socialism? • Why biblical generosity is voluntary rather than compelled by government.How our understanding of human nature changes the capitalism vs. socialism debate. Segment 3 • Todd addresses the latest G3 Ministries controversy—and explains why Wretched waited to discuss it. • Anonymous plagiarism accusations, a bizarre mailing campaign, and the resignation of all four elders at Praise Mill Baptist Church. • When a church is rocked by controversy, how should Christians respond without gossiping or rushing to judgment? Segment 4 • How should churches hold elders accountable without undermining their biblical authority? • Why church members sometimes need to trust elders even when confidentiality prevents them from explaining a decision. • What decisions should require congregational involvement—and could better accountability help prevent future church scandals? ___ 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 • Can a Christian celebrate Indian holidays like Diwali, even if the Hindu religious elements aren't emphasized? — Troy • Why don't you baptize babies? — Anonymous Segment 2 • How can I stop being controlled by other people's opinions and find my identity in Christ? — JD Segment 3 • What should I do if I want to serve more at church but keep getting overlooked? — Anonymous • Is it appropriate to dance with someone who isn't your spouse? — Jana Segment 4 • How do I respect my husband when I feel like there's nothing about him to respect? — Nancy • What is your view of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? — Jeremy ___ 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!

Is ADHD being overdiagnosed? Todd challenges some common assumptions about children, medicine, and education before Todd and Jimmy decide which of several outrageous stories is the most agitating. Segment 1 • Is ADHD really a medical condition—or are we medicating kids who simply don't fit the system? • What if your child isn't broken... but simply learns differently? • Why parents shouldn't let academic performance define their child's potential. Segment 2 • Are we too quick to trust a diagnosis simply because it comes from a medical professional? • Texas Children's Hospital is accused of using false diagnoses to bill Medicaid for gender procedures. • Why viability and a heartbeat aren't the strongest arguments for when human life deserves protection. Segment 3 • Adam Hamilton defends the idea that people can be saved without knowing Jesus—but does his argument work? • A televangelist who declared he'd never go to jail is now behind bars for obstructing the IRS. • His church is still encouraging people to send money to their imprisoned “anointed leader.” Segment 4 • A man confessed to murdering a pastor and asked to be executed—so why is the case still dragging on? • Another Duggar family scandal raises questions about crime, punishment, and accountability. • A restaurant owner kicks out a pro-life group and compares them to the KKK—but does a private business have the right to do that? ___ 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! What do you say when someone trusts science instead of God, thinks growing up Christian makes them a Christian, or believes being good will get them to heaven? Segment 1 • Can you believe in science without exercising faith? • How do you reason with someone who believes the universe doesn't need a Designer? • What do you say to someone who simply doesn't care about God or judgment? Segment 2 • Does growing up in a Christian home make you a Christian? • How can someone read the Bible and still miss the gospel? • What do you say to someone who insists he's still “searching” for the truth? Segment 3 • Is being a “good person” enough to get you into heaven? • Can Christians, Muslims, and Jews all be saved? • Why can't a loving God simply forgive everyone? Segment 4 • Can your good works ever make up for your sins? • How do you explain the “great exchange” in a witnessing conversation? • What does it actually mean to stop striving and trust in Christ alone? ___ 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!

Do your feelings get a vote when God has already spoken? From rejecting hell to claiming personal encounters with Jesus, Todd looks at why even sincere experiences can lead us away from truth—and why Scripture has to remain the final authority. Segment 1 • Why Todd believes leaving mentally ill and addicted people on the streets isn't compassion. • What his trip to Chattanooga revealed about homelessness and human dignity. • Why personal autonomy isn't always the most loving answer. Segment 2 • Jen Hatmaker says abandoning her belief in a literal hell was “the best thing” that ever happened to her. • Should Christians use the fear of hell when sharing the gospel—especially with children? • Why the gospel requires both the reality of judgment and the kindness of God in providing a Savior. Segment 3 • Kathie Lee Gifford says she's experienced Jesus speaking to her and encounters with the demonic. • Why Todd says Christians don't need personal experiences to confirm what Jesus has already revealed in Scripture. • Are Christians treating baptism with the same urgency we see in the book of Acts? Segment 4 • Why older Christian men cannot afford to coast spiritually or assume they're beyond serious sexual sin. • Massachusetts expands access to late-term abortion—and an abortion doctor says he'd perform one simply because a woman changed her mind. • A proposed law would require pornography websites to verify that users are adults. ___ 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!

•Christian nationalism is gaining traction with young Christian men—but is it actually biblical? Todd looks at the history and theology behind the movement, puts the idea of a “Christian prince” to the test, and explains why evangelism should spend more time exalting Christ than playing defense. Segment 1 • Why are so many young Christian men attracted to Christian nationalism? • Does the movement have enough biblical support—or does it rely more heavily on historical theology? • What the bloody history of church-state alliances should teach Christians today. Segment 2 • What happens when the church’s mission gets mixed with the government’s power of the sword? • Could Christian nationalism actually undermine evangelism and misrepresent Jesus? • Why Todd believes pursuing a “Christian nation” can distract the church from making disciples. Segment 3 • If America had a “Christian prince,” who gets to decide what qualifies as Christian? • Todd uses Adam Hamilton’s views on salvation and universalism to expose a major problem with the idea. • Whose theology ultimately determines what a Christian government would enforce? Segment 4 • Why Todd wants evangelism to spend less time defending Christianity and more time exalting Christ. • Out of the Shadows confronts pornography among women without minimizing the sin or piling on shame. • How confession, repentance, and bringing hidden sin into the light lead toward genuine change. ___ 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 • Why is antisemitism escalating around the world? — Jonathan • What’s the difference between biblical counseling and Christian counseling? — Anonymous Segment 2 • How should I biblically handle my one-year-old’s temper tantrums? — Alexandra • Is it appropriate to confront my retired dad about how he’s spending his time? — Anonymous Segment 3 • Should we regularly use study Bibles if we have the Holy Spirit to help us understand Scripture? — Rachel • What does it actually mean to be “led by the Spirit”? Segment 4 • My grandfather died unsaved. How should I deal with the guilt of not sharing the gospel with him? — Matt • How long should I have victory over pornography before pursuing a relationship? — Jonathan ___ 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!

Bethel is still producing “visions,” parents are increasingly being cut off by their adult children, free speech collides with Islam, and two former NBA players expose the WNBA’s transgender dilemma. What should Christians learn from all of it? Segment 1 • A Bethel Music singer describes a dramatic “vision” of Jesus. • Why chasing fresh revelations can quietly undermine the sufficiency of Scripture. • If your church sings Bethel Music, what exactly are you supporting? Segment 2 • Why are so many adult children cutting off their parents? • Five influences driving family estrangement, from politics to therapy culture. • What Christian parents can do now to strengthen relationships with their children. Segment 3 • A British activist tests whether an Oxford audience really believes in free speech. • Why one envelope containing a supposed image of Muhammad caused an uproar. • What the confrontation reveals about Islam and Western values. Segment 4 • Two former NBA players say they identify as women and want into the WNBA. • Their stunt forces the transgender sports debate to confront its own logic. • When obvious truths are rejected, why facts alone may never be enough. ___ 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!

Someone tells you they’re a Christian. What should you ask next? On this Witness Wednesday, listen in as Todd demonstrates how to move past labels, uncover what people actually believe, and naturally steer conversations toward the gospel. Segment 1 • Todd meets Francisco, a professing Christian who believes there’s room for other religions. • How do you challenge religious pluralism without getting lost in an argument? • Learn how a few simple questions can reveal what someone really believes about Jesus. Segment 2 • Oren says he’s a Christian and knows he’s going to heaven—but Todd keeps asking questions. • What should you ask to find out whether someone actually understands the gospel? • Why you shouldn’t end the conversation just because someone says, “I’m a Christian.” Segment 3 • Jesse doesn’t believe in God, sees nothing wrong with pornography, and isn’t bothered by the thought of hell. • What do you say when someone seems completely unmoved by the consequences of sin? • Watch how digging deeper uncovers something far more personal behind Jesse’s unbelief. Segment 4 • A psychology student believes people are basically good and morality depends on the situation. • See how Todd uses everyday questions about lying, stealing, and lust to challenge that worldview. • Learn how to move naturally from morality to the good news of 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!

A prominent Methodist pastor says the Bible contains hundreds of mistakes, a Texas city erupts over plans for a new mosque, and a politician uses Jesus to promote a gospel of good works. Segment 1 • Why Christians may be putting too much hope in politics. • Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton wins the Democratic Senate primary. • The growing progressive/Islamist political alliance. Segment 2 • Adam Hamilton claims the Bible contains “hundreds” of mistakes. • Gabe Hughes puts one of Hamilton’s supposed contradictions to the test. • James Talarico uses Matthew 25 to promote salvation by good works. Segment 3 • Why Todd brings 21 pages of notes into the pulpit. • A proposed Texas mosque sparks a heated city council meeting. • An Iranian Sharia-law survivor warns Americans about political Islam. Segment 4 • Is one cup of coffee basically the same as “a little crack”? • Should pastors get special treatment when they break the law? • A prominent atheist says he’d rather go to Hell than worship 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!

The Shack 2 is on the way... Todd explains why The Shack has been so influential despite its serious theological errors. Plus, a practical look at church membership, submitting to biblical leadership, and what faithful church life should actually look like. Segment 1 • Why Todd believes The Shack teaches a different view of God and the gospel. • Should pastors publicly warn their churches about bestselling Christian books? • The biggest theological problems hidden behind an emotional story. Segment 2 • Todd introduces Exalt the King, a new sermon podcast through 1 Peter. • Why constantly immersing yourself in Scripture changes the way you think. • Do Christians need modern experts to understand who Jesus really is? Segment 3 • Should you quietly leave a church without telling your pastor? • Why serving at church is more than just volunteering. • What healthy church membership should actually look like. Segment 4 • What should you do when your pastor doesn't take your advice? • When should church members submit... and when is it right to speak up? • How trust between pastors and church members can prevent unnecessary church conflict. ___ 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 • Todd and Jimmy discuss why accepting help from others can be so difficult. • Rachel: My toddler has become so difficult that I went back to work just to get a break. What should we do? Segment 2 • Anonymous: I disagreed with your parenting advice. How does Todd respond? • Adam: How should Christians respond to family members who constantly connect current events to Bible prophecy? • Should every theological disagreement become a debate? Segment 3 • Eric: Is it wise for pastors to use a sermon application team? • Todd explains why faithful preaching must move beyond information to biblical application that transforms the heart. Segment 4 • Anonymous: Should I apologize to my parents for the sins I committed as a teenager? New from Fortis Exalt the King launches Monday, August 10 — Todd Friel's new weekly sermon podcast featuring sermons from Alpharetta Bible Church. Out of the Shadows with Libby Glosson launches Tuesday, August 18 — a new Fortis resource helping women find biblical freedom from pornography. ___ 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!

Why are more young Christians returning to traditional church? Todd examines the surprising shift back toward reverence, structure, and hymnals before sharing a practical blueprint for planning a worship service that points people to Christ. Plus, Jason Lisle explains why apologetics often misses the mark, and Todd responds to Bill Maher's warning about the future of American politics. Segment 1 • Why more churches are bringing hymnals back. • Young Christians are asking for something many churches have abandoned. • What makes a worship service feel distinctly Christian? Segment 2 • Todd walks through an entire Sunday service at Alpharetta Bible Church. • Why every element of worship should reinforce the sermon. • A practical model for planning worship with purpose instead of performance. Segment 3 • Why Jason Lisle says atheists already know God exists. • The apologetics mistake many Christians make. • Why only the gospel—not arguments—can change a heart. Segment 4 • Bill Maher warns that the Democratic Party is embracing communism. • Why political solutions can never replace spiritual transformation. • How Christians should respond to a culture moving further from 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!

Can someone reject hell and still claim to follow Jesus? Todd speaks with students at Georgia Tech about religious pluralism, God's justice, and why the gospel offers what no other religion can. Segment 1 • Jason: Can every religion lead to God? • Jason believes he can accept Jesus while rejecting parts of the Bible. • Why God's justice makes the doctrine of hell impossible to dismiss. Segment 2 • Jason: If God is loving, why is hell eternal? • Todd explains why our greatest problem isn't the size of our sin—but the holiness of the God we've sinned against. • The conversation reaches the heart of the gospel. Segment 3 • Preston: An atheist says Jesus is nothing more than a story borrowed from other religions. • Can someone reject God while still claiming to be a "good person"? • Todd challenges the foundation of Preston's worldview. Segment 4 • Rahul: A Hindu student explains what he believes about reincarnation. • Can any religion actually solve humanity's sin problem? • Why Christianity offers something every other religion cannot. ___ 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!

A viral evangelist is praised for sharing the gospel on an Alaska Airlines flight—but did she actually present the gospel biblically? Todd examines the message, then takes on several of today's most troubling examples of bad theology and explains why getting doctrine right matters. Segment 1 • Did the viral Alaska Airlines evangelist present the gospel accurately? • What's missing from many modern gospel presentations? • Why does the order of the gospel message matter? Segment 2 • Amanda Grace claims hidden biblical messages are found in numbers. Is this how Christians should interpret Scripture? • Bethel leaders declare an end to racism by banging a staff. Can Christians really "decree and declare" reality? • A Methodist church rewrites the Beatitudes. How far is too far? Segment 3 • Which modern headlines reveal the greatest confusion about justice and biblical truth? • Todd and Jimmy weigh several bizarre stories and ask, "Which one is the most tragic?" • Why should Christians evaluate every headline through a biblical worldview? Segment 4 • Why are the nations raging according to Psalm 2? • Is politics really America's biggest problem? • What's the only solution that can truly transform a nation? ___ 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 • Is neo-Nazi ideology quietly making its way from the manosphere into local churches? • Why are so many young men attracted to the "red pill" movement—and what are they really searching for? • Could a legitimate frustration with modern culture be leading some men toward a dangerously unbiblical solution? Segment 2 • How should churches respond when young men embrace conspiracy-driven worldviews instead of biblical masculinity? • Todd explains why simply mocking these movements may actually push struggling young men even deeper into them. • What does authentic biblical manhood offer that the manosphere never can? Segment 3 • Is today's therapy culture encouraging adult children to ghost their parents? • Todd unpacks why "toxic" and "trauma" may be getting redefined in ways that destroy families. • Could cutting off difficult relationships actually stunt your spiritual and emotional growth? Segment 4 • A woman follows her therapist's advice to cut off her mother... and spends ten years regretting it. • Todd connects parental ghosting, the crisis facing young men, and the church's opportunity to respond. • Is your church preparing young men to become godly leaders before another worldview captures their attention? ___ 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 • Shantal: What should Christians believe about Anglicanism? • Bryce: Are the qualifications for leading a Bible study different from being a pastor? • Tom: How do we encourage larger families while showing compassion to couples who cannot have children? Segment 2 • Leslie: How should I respond after letting a Facebook argument create conflict in my marriage? • Lori: Should Christians use a transgender person's preferred name and pronouns? • Anonymous: Has Todd ever shared his personal testimony? Segment 3 • Emily: Will broken bodies be made whole in heaven? • Jerrod: Can women administer baptism and communion? Segment 4 • Eli: Should Christian women wear yoga pants, and how should parents teach modesty to their children? ___ 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 Week! You've got questions, we've got answers. Segment 1 • Aimee & Hannah: Do angels still minister to believers on earth today? • Nancy: After years of wandering from the faith, should I get baptized again? • Kerry: What is Christian Science, and how does it differ from biblical Christianity? Segment 2 • Andrew: Is playing chess a gray area, or am I overthinking it? Segment 3 • Anonymous: How should I respond to family members who claim Christ but reject biblical truth? • Boaz: How can I pursue a godly relationship without making that person an idol? Segment 4 • Anonymous: Should I join a church that doesn't have a formal membership process? • Stephanie: What does it really mean that sin separates us from God? • Tom: Why is Freemasonry incompatible with biblical Christianity? ___ 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!

Does everyone have their own truth? Can good works outweigh our sin? Todd sits down with William, a political science student at Kennesaw State University, to discuss objective truth, the gospel, and whether anyone can be made right with God through good works. Segment 1 • Does everyone have their own truth? • William explains his view of God and Christianity. • Todd challenges the idea that sincere belief determines reality. Segment 2 • William attempts to explain the gospel. • Does Jesus' death automatically remove everyone's guilt? • Why God's holiness and justice make the gospel necessary. Segment 3 • Can good works outweigh our sin? • What does it really mean to be born again? • Todd explains why salvation cannot be earned. Segment 4 • Todd reflects on the conversation with William. • Practical lessons for sharing the gospel on a college campus. • Why evangelism should focus on Christ instead of winning arguments. ___ 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 Week! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Segment 1 • Anonymous: Should I leave my church because it uses Bethel Music? • Anonymous: How should I handle toxic in-laws while honoring Christ? Segment 2 • Todd explains what it really means to be a biblical man—and why protecting your wife is harder than going to the gym. • Can you explain the gospel in just 30 seconds? Segment 3 • Did Jimmy use AI to create a new Wretched Radio theme song? • Joseph: Do babies who die go to heaven? • Steve: How can I serve the Lord when my health keeps me from doing ministry? Segment 4 • Todd shares two practical ways churches can better connect younger and older generations. • Dakota: Should I stop giving to my church if I disagree with how it spends money? ___ 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 Week! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Segment 1 • David: Is it OK to keep secrets from your spouse? • Betty: Will we remember our sins when we're in heaven? Segment 2 • Anonymous: How can I stop focusing on my spouse's faults instead of my own? • Todd shares an encouraging testimony about how Drive By Parenting transformed one father's relationship with his son. Segment 3 • Anonymous: After overcoming a porn addiction, what should I fight next? • Todd and Jimmy: Does cornbread need cracklins... and does honey belong on it? Segment 4 • Brent: Is euthanizing a suffering pet biblical? • Joanne: What should Christians think about Flat Earth claims? • Anonymous: Can a divorced man who came to Christ later still serve as a pastor? • Stuart: Should you share the gospel the moment you meet someone? ___ 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!