Wretched Radio with Todd Friel - Fortis Institute

Latest Episodes:

ANGRY AT SOMEONE WHO HURT YOU? HOW BIBLICAL COUNSELING CAN GIVE YOU PEACE Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Segment 1 • On Transformed, a marriage suffers from husband’s hidden porn use. • Dr. Lou Priolo exposes why we justify anger against those who’ve wronged us. • A powerful example of how biblical counseling cuts to the heart. Segment 2 • Forgiveness must be given when someone repents, but trust is rebuilt over time. • Handing trust to the unfaithful too soon is foolish—and dangerous. • Bitterness is a poisonous root that churches often fail to confront. Segment 3 • With John MacArthur’s memorial coming soon, how will GCC honor him biblically? • The delicate balance between honoring a life and glorifying Christ. • What your funeral focus should say about your life’s purpose. Segment 4 • Lighter moments from John MacArthur show his warmth and wit. • Memorable clips capture his unique style. • A final look at a pastor who shaped countless lives for 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!

HONORING DR. WAYNE MACK: USED BY GOD TO COUNSEL OTHERS FROM SCRIPTURE Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Segment 1 • Dr. Wayne Mack, biblical counseling pioneer, has died—weeks after Dr. John MacArthur. • Founded biblical counseling center in South Africa and authored 25+ books. • Left an enduring legacy in biblical counseling worldwide. Segment 2 • AI is replacing jobs—what happens to those left behind? • Pastoral ministry is one role AI can’t replace. • Wayne Mack’s “8 I’s” of biblical counseling shaped countless pastors. Segment 3 • Are incomplete gospel presentations hindering true conversions? • Don’t assume unbelievers understand Gospel basics. • Justin Peters’ gospel presentation serves as a comprehensive model. Segment 4 • Justin Peters: repentance is a God-given gift. • Cornerstone Conference highlights strong, clear gospel preaching. • Depth and clarity are essential for true gospel proclamation. ___ 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!

WANT TO GET MARRIED, BUT STILL SINGLE? HERE’S WHAT GOD COULD BE DOING Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Segment 1: • Is it okay for Christian couples to show affection in public? • How do I trust God with heartbreak and my desire for marriage? Segment 2: • Should old-earth believers serve as elders or deacons? • Is it wrong to prefer reading the New Testament over the Old Testament? Segment 3: • Should churches follow a liturgy in their worship services? Segment 4: • How can lay preachers get better at preaching in small churches? • Why do i still feel angry over sins God already forgave? ___ 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!

CHURCH CONCERT SPARKS OUTRAGE – AND IT’S A SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING DEEPER Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

Segment 1: • A historic church rents its space for a secular concert—sparking outrage from the Bishop of Fulham. • Todd raises a key question: What happens when churches become concert venues instead of houses of worship? • Calls out “fun-gelical” trends that turn reverence into entertainment—and why this drives deconstruction. Segment 2: • Carl Trueman pens a blistering open letter to the Church of England amid doctrinal collapse. • Divorce is ravaging Christian families—are churches equipped to respond biblically? • Spurgeon’s college in England shuts its doors—a symbolic loss in the spiritual battle. Segment 3: • The “Wide World of Christian Stories” includes: Hindu idol installations, Chuck E. Cheese for adults, and “Spawnism.” • Cultural confusion and spiritual idolatry are rising in the West—and it’s not subtle anymore. • Todd jokes about plantar fasciitis, but gets serious about where modern worship is headed. Segment 4: • Eugenics is back—disguised in polite modern language. • A British teacher defends child sacrifice; 1 in 3 pregnancies in Great Britain ends in abortion. • Christians remain the world’s most persecuted group—yet many churches remain silent. ___ 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!

POSTMODERN STUDENTS REVEAL ONE BIG REASON THEY’RE WRONG ON JESUS! Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

It’s Witness Wednesday! In this episode of Wretched Radio, Todd Friel engages in a series of dialogues with students on campus in Gainesville, GA. Friel challenges their theological stances, encouraging them to contemplate their paths to heaven, sin, and the core tenets of Christianity. Segment 1: • Seventh-Day Adventist believes salvation is through commandments and Sabbath; admits breaking them. • Todd shows law reveals guilt; salvation is by grace in Christ alone. • Urged to repent and trust Jesus’ finished work, not his own. Segment 2: • Sikh student believes in reincarnation and good works; admits moral failures. • Todd explains all die once, face judgment, and fall short. • Presents gospel: Jesus took punishment, offering forgiveness to all who repent. Segment 3: • United Methodist student is polite, but unsure of gospel, no assurance of salvation. • Todd explains sin, judgment, and Christ’s atonement as only hope. • Challenged to examine if he’s truly trusted Christ. Segment 4: • Two postmodern students believe all paths lead to happiness; reject absolute truth. • Todd shows opposing beliefs can’t both be true; Jesus’ claim is exclusive. • Gospel offered as God’s kindness: turn to Christ who died for sinners. ___ 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!

HOW YOU CAN TURN WELL-MEANING EVANGELISM INTO ROCK SOLID GOSPEL Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

Segment 1: • Chad Wright’s Rogan appearance: strong theology, but gospel completeness questioned. • Gospel tracts: one clearly presented law & gospel; another (“Be a Winner”) fell into moralism. • Idolatry from Exodus 32: Moses points to Christ—the only sufficient substitute. Segment 2: • AI sermon prep can save time, but can’t replace deep study and spiritual growth. • “Be a Winner” tract warns of bad habits but misses God’s justice, wrath, and need for atonement. • Evangelism must connect sin’s horizontal effects to its vertical offense against a holy God. Segment 3: • Tim Challies’ From the Rising of the Sun: cultural differences in worship are normal. • Biblical elements (preaching, sacraments) vs. cultural circumstances (music, attire, service style). • Unity over preference: avoid judging faithful churches by personal worship style. Segment 4: • Judas vs. Peter: false repentance hides from Jesus; true repentance runs to Him. • Many deconstruct over shame, not theology—teach kids to turn to Christ in failure. • Idols disappoint—when they collapse, flee to Jesus for forgiveness and restoration. ___ 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!

POWERFUL TESTIMONY OR FULL GOSPEL? HEAR WHAT THIS BELIEVER SHARED ON JOE ROGAN Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Segment 1: • Christians cheer a Navy SEAL’s appearance on Rogan as “gospel shared”—but was it? • Todd clarifies difference between chit-chat about Christianity, apologetics, and actual evangelism. • Chad Wright’s testimony: reading Matthew, realizing sin, needing salvation—strong on depravity but not yet a full gospel. Segment 2: • Chad explains total depravity, regeneration, salvation by grace alone—impressively deep theology. • Missing pieces: no clear explanation of wrath, judgment, or Christ’s substitutionary death. • Todd evaluates whether a full gospel was actually presented or just strong testimony. Segment 3: • Chad strategically shifts conversation back to sin and death—explaining original sin clearly. • Describes death as the result of sin, judgment as certain, Jesus as taking punishment. • Todd affirms this could be gospel—but clarity on God’s wrath is still lacking. Segment 4: • Chad’s theology on Jesus’ physical body, resurrection, and glorification is solid but speculative at points. • Todd: Good doctrine, but still no explicit penal substitution or wrath explained. • Evangelism analogy: You can’t just share “parts” of the gospel—you must give the whole picture. ___ 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!

HYPOCRISY OR WISDOM? WHY POSTING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS SPARKS DEBATE Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Segment 1: • Is it hypocritical to oppose posting the Ten Commandments in schools if we use them for personal evangelism? • Does separation of church and state mean Christians should avoid influencing public education? Segment 2: • Have churches failed to address unbiblical remarriage after divorce? • What role does confession to others play in fighting pornography? • What’s a God-honoring way to give away or dispose of unused ministry books? Segment 3: • Should we adopt a traumatized teen if it could put our younger children at risk? Segment 4: • If attention spans drop after 25 minutes, should pastors shorten their sermons? ___ 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!

HOW CHRISTIAN PARENTS SHOULD RESPOND TO THIS ALARMING SMART PHONE STATISTIC Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

Segment 1: • Smartphones at age 5–6 linked to 48% suicidal thoughts in girls. • Early phone use disrupts emotional stability, empathy, and reality perception. • Christians called to be counter-cultural—even if kids push back. Segment 2: • Ozempic use in teens raising long-term brain and appetite concerns. • Stopping GLP-1 drugs leaves lasting appetite and mood issues. • Mental health crisis linked to dopamine interference and body image lies. Segment 3: • Smartphones + body image pressure driving teen Ozempic use. • Over 700 signed up for Play the Man—momentum is building. • Campus culture toward Christianity is shifting—opportunities emerging. Segment 4: • Beachaven Church aiming for 10,000 gospel conversations. • Evangelism culture must be intentional—does your church have one? • Only 36% of Americans confident in the church; evangelism can change 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!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ‘KIND OF ATHEIST’ IS CONFRONTED WITH THE CROSS? Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

It’s Witness Wednesday! Does being raised in a “religious” home guarantee that a child will continue in the faith once they go to college? The conversations you hear in this episode might shock you. Todd is back at Georgia Tech where he will encounter the unfortunate toll post-modernism has had on the minds of young adults. Todd also shares a strategy that proves helpful in evangelistic conversations. Segment 1: • The first student Todd talks with was raised around church but has drifted from Christianity due to friends, science, and disinterest. • He claims to be a “good person”; Todd uses the 10 Commandments to show the student’s guilt before God. • He hears the full gospel—Jesus paying his fine so he can be forgiven— and is challenged to decide if it’s true. Segment 2: • The next student Todd talks to identifies as Baptist but admits he doesn’t know if he’s going to heaven. • Todd explains that being religious isn’t the same as being born again. • The student is urged to repent, trust in Christ fully, and make his salvation certain by being pointed to Romans to see the truth. Segment 3: • Todd talks with a student that believes in a vague “parent-like” God who disciplines but doesn’t condemn. • Todd uses the 10 Commandments to show guilt before a just Judge who must punish sin. • The student hears the gospel—Jesus taking his punishment—and is challenged to determine if it’s true. Segment 4: • Kevin embraces postmodern thinking: Catholicism works for him, but “all truths” are valid. • Another student calls himself Christian but doubts Jesus is the only way; breaks all 10 Commandments. • Both students are urged to see Jesus as the only truth, repent, and trust Him alone for salvation. ___ 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!

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