Wretched Radio with Todd Friel - Fortis Institute

Latest Episodes:

The PCA Takes a Stand on Christian Nationalism Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Segment 1 • Why the PCA's report on Christian nationalism deserves attention. • Should the government enforce Christian morality or protect religious liberty? • What changed between the Westminster Confession of 1646 and 1788, and why it still matters. Segment 2 • The PCA issues affirmations and denials on church, state, and political involvement. • Why the church's mission can never be replaced by politics. • The biblical response to kinism, racism, and divisive rhetoric. Segment 3 • Why the gospel must always take priority over political victories. • Practical advice for pastors navigating Christian nationalism in their churches. • What the PCA says about keeping difficult conversations centered on Christ. Segment 4 • The PCUSA stumbles over a vote on clergy monogamy. • James Talarico's controversial comments at the Texas Democratic Convention. • Why the PCA is warning Christians about anger, slander, and political tribalism. ___ 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 Pastor Beats a Young Man + American Revival? + Dinosaurs in the Bible Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Segment 1 • Dr. Jason Lisle explains on his In the Beginning podcast how dinosaurs actually fit the Bible's timeline. • What surprising discoveries inside dinosaur fossils are challenging millions of years of evolutionary assumptions? • Could creatures like Behemoth and Leviathan actually describe dinosaurs? Segment 2 • Is America really experiencing a spiritual revival, or are the headlines overstating what's happening? • Why are more young people saying religion matters while fewer are actually attending church? • If people are becoming more open to faith, how should Christians respond? Segment 3 • Phil Johnson announces his retirement after more than four decades at Grace to You. What does his legacy teach about faithful ministry? • Is the church experiencing a changing of the guard as influential Christian leaders pass the baton? • Why should every Christian care more about their local church than celebrity ministries? Segment 4 • A pastor beat up a young man, then defended his actions from the pulpit using Scripture. Can the Bible really justify violence? • What does this incident reveal about the dangers of taking justice into our own hands? • What qualifications should every pastor meet before stepping into the pulpit? ___ 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: Can We Trust the Bible? + Hitler vs. Mother Teresa + Sprinkling Baptism Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Segment 1 • Cademan: How can I help a friend trust that the Bible we have today is truly God's Word? Segment 2 • Anonymous: How can I grow in spiritual maturity? • Jonathan: Are unbelievers judged according to the amount of truth they rejected—and will people like Hitler and Mother Teresa receive the same punishment? • Alan: Should Christians belong to organizations like the Elks Lodge? Segment 3 • Anonymous: How can I encourage my husband to stop being late for church? • Anonymous: How can I biblically help my 10-year-old son who struggles with anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and possible OCD? Segment 4 • Rachel: Is baptism by sprinkling ever appropriate, and should someone baptized that way be accepted into church membership? • James: If a professing Christian commits suicide, does that mean they were never truly saved? ___ 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!

James Talarico: A Christian Who Hates Christianity? Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

Segment 1 • James Talarico calls himself "a Christian who hates Christianity." • Can you redefine Christianity and still call it biblical? • Why progressive theology is far more dangerous than progressive politics. Segment 2 • Can politics actually save America? • The surprising reason America is losing its shared identity. • Why the answer isn't legislation—it's something far deeper. Segment 3 • What declining support for Israel reveals about America's spiritual condition. • If you could rebuild a nation from scratch, where would you start? • Why Christians may be fighting the wrong battle. Segment 4 • What falling birth rates, marijuana, and homeschooling all have in common. • Why changing laws will never change hearts. • The one mission Jesus gave the Church that still changes cultures today. ___ 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!

This Buddhist Student Had Never Heard the Gospel Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

It’s Witness Wednesday! Segment 1 • Rex confidently says Jesus is Lord—but can he explain why someone should believe that? • What happens when personal testimony isn't enough to persuade a skeptic? • Todd helps Rex move from "Jesus changed my life" to the gospel message that actually saves. Segment 2 • Sean believes heaven and hell are real—but how can anyone know they're truly forgiven? • Can last rites, confession, or religious rituals clear a guilty conscience before God? • Todd and Sean compare Roman Catholicism and biblical Christianity on the question that matters most: How are sinners made right with God? Segment 3 • This Buddhist student has lived in America for two years—and has never heard the gospel. • If Buddhism brings peace and happiness, why would someone need Christianity? • Todd contrasts managing desires with solving humanity's deepest problem: guilt before a holy God. Segment 4 • Casey believes morality is doing what feels right—but who gets the final say on right and wrong? • Raised Southern Baptist, Casey knows church culture but doesn't understand the gospel. • Karma, evolution, religion, and the law of God collide in a conversation about truth, judgment, and forgiveness. ___ 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!

TikTok Is Catechizing Your Kids + A Warning From Church History Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Segment 1 • An update on Jimmy Hicks’ surgery recovery reveals an unexpected lesson about marriage, suffering, and seeing your spouse with fresh eyes. • Could one difficult season expose blessings in your family that you've been overlooking for years? • What happens when hardship becomes the very thing that deepens intimacy instead of destroying it? Segment 2 • Charlemagne’s attempt to spread Christianity through political power raises questions that Christians are still debating today. • What happens when the lines between church and state become blurry? • A look at history’s most famous examples of “Christian government” reveals consequences many believers never consider. Segment 3 • Are the scientific arguments for an ancient earth really as airtight as we've been told? • Dr. Jason Lisle challenges popular dating methods, dinosaur timelines, and assumptions about Earth's history. • What evidence causes some scientists to question long-held claims about millions and billions of years? Segment 4 • Why are teenagers risking their lives for TikTok fame—and is the real problem deeper than social media? • Todd contrasts modern youth ministry trends with the forgotten practice of catechizing children. • Could a stronger understanding of identity, sin, and the gospel help address the crisis facing today's generation? ___ 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!

Government Cowardice, Pastoral Sin, And Gospel Urgency Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

Segment 1 • A shocking report claims authorities ignored the mass exploitation of over 250,000 young girls—why would officials look the other way? • Is fear of being labeled racist preventing governments from confronting serious cultural and criminal problems? • What happens when immigration, assimilation, and public safety collide in ways nobody wants to discuss? Segment 2 • Why are some people calling the Islamic call to prayer beautiful while ignoring the theology behind it? • A European government refuses to ban first-cousin marriage despite alarming birth defect statistics—what's driving the decision? • Are secular governments or religious movements responsible for more violence throughout history than you've been led to believe? Segment 3 • Two newly discovered Augustine sermons spark a surprising reminder about your identity in Christ. • What happens to a marriage when forgiveness is offered—but never truly given? • Another pastor falls in a prostitution sting, raising uncomfortable questions about accountability, temptation, and hidden sin. Segment 4 • Archaeologists uncover one of the oldest known images of Jesus—but does it actually resemble Him? • Why do so many pastors feel exhausted, discouraged, and unsatisfied in ministry today? • How should church members care for their shepherds before burnout becomes a crisis? ___ 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: Heaven Without My Children + God’s Wrath + Sunday Best Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Segment 1 • A concerned mom asks: “How could heaven be joyful if my children never repent and come to Christ?” Segment 2 • Justin asks whether Jesus’ physical death alone paid for sin—or whether His suffering under God’s wrath was also necessary. • What happens when children and teens hear a “Jesus loves you” message without sin, wrath, repentance, or the full gospel? Segment 3 • Kristen asks whether tithing can be given wherever the Holy Spirit leads—or whether the local church should come first. • Lucinda asks how to persuade a determinedly uneducated family member that learning matters biblically. Segment 4 • Claire shares how godly male friendships are strengthening husbands, fathers, homes, and the church. • Caleb asks whether emphasizing “Sunday best” can unintentionally make poorly dressed visitors feel unwelcome at church. ___ 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!

Spiritual Gifts + Ken Ham’s Legacy + Kids Ministry Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

Segment 1 • Are you missing a key reason your Christian life feels stuck or incomplete? • Todd argues that spiritual gifts are woven into God’s design for human flourishing—just like marriage, family, work, and education. • What if the fastest way to discover your spiritual gift isn’t a test, but simply getting involved? Segment 2 • Why do so many Christians leave their God-given gifts sitting on the shelf? • Todd breaks down a wide range of spiritual gifts and shows how they can be used in surprisingly practical ways. • Could your church—and your own joy—be suffering because you're neglecting a "priestly duty"? Segment 3 • What does Ken Ham’s family legacy reveal about passing faith to future generations? • Todd challenges modern children’s ministry models that prioritize entertainment over theology. • Are we giving kids a “Jesus is your friend” message when they desperately need a bigger view of God? Segment 4 • Why are so many Christian parents losing ground in the battle for their children’s hearts and minds? • Todd shares ten practical ways to pass biblical wisdom to children and grandchildren. • Could simple habits like family meals, handwritten letters, and visible repentance leave a gospel legacy that lasts for generations? ___ 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 Mormons Believe in the Same Jesus? Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

It’s Witness Wednesday! At the University of Georgia, Todd Friel meets Damarié, a Baptist student who believes in Jesus but struggles to explain why Christianity is uniquely true, leading to a conversation about truth, conscience, sin, and what it really means to trust Christ. Later, Todd engages with LDS missionaries about the identity of Jesus, the Great Apostasy, grace versus works, and whether salvation is a gift to be received or a reward to be earned. Segment 1 • Damarié says he’s Baptist—but can he explain why Christianity is actually true? • Are all religions just personal preferences, or do they make competing truth claims? • What happens when the conversation shifts from philosophy to your own guilt before God? Segment 2 • Why would Jesus go to the cross if every religion leads to God? • Can a just Judge forgive sinners without ignoring justice? • Damarié wrestles with a question many churchgoers avoid: Have I truly trusted Christ? Segment 3 • If two groups use the name “Jesus,” can they still be talking about different saviors? • LDS missionaries explain who they believe Jesus is—and how someone is saved. • Does salvation come by grace alone, or is there more required to reach eternity? Segment 4 • Why would young people leave family behind for two years to spread their faith? • Did Christianity disappear for centuries until Joseph Smith restored it? • Do your works affect your eternal destiny 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!

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