Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

•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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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 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!