Wretched Radio with Todd Friel - Fortis Institute

Latest Episodes:

Pastor Says the Bible Has Hundreds of Mistakes + Sharia Law in Texas? + Politician Distorts the Gospel Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

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 Coming… + Should You Leave a Church Quietly? Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

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!

Mailbag Friday: Why Is Accepting Help So Hard? + Strong-Willed Toddlers & Theological Debates Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

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 More Young Christians Want Traditional Church Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

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 You Reject Hell… and Still Follow Jesus? Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

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!

Viral Airplane Evangelist, Bethel’s Declarations & Methodists Rewriting Scripture Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

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!

Red-Pill Lies & Young Men In Crisis + Therapy Culture Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

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!

Mailbag Friday: Anglicanism, Transgender Pronouns & Yoga Pants Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

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!

Mailbag Thursday: Angels, Getting Baptized Again & Freemasonry Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

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? Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

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!

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