Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Fortis Institute
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Jun 11, 2025 • 55min

THE GOSPEL VS. YOUR CONSCIENCE—WHICH ONE WINS?

It’s Witness Wednesday! Todd Friel is back on campus at Georgia Tech. His discussions revolve around topics such as religion, atheism, the existence of God, evolution, personal beliefs, and moral judgment under the Christian framework. Todd uses various analogies and biblical references to argue for Christianity while addressing the contrasting views on religion and science held by the students. Segment 1: • Former Methodist student wrestles with whether belief itself—regardless of truth—has any value. • Agrees that justice requires judgment but hesitates to apply it to himself. • Gets walked through conscience-based questions and admits he’d be found guilty—yet clings to a vague hope in divine leniency. Segment 2: • Student hears a crystal-clear gospel: forgiveness comes only through Christ, not good behavior. • Initially says he agrees with “parts” of Christianity—until pressed on why he’s never trusted Jesus. • The sticking point? He prefers sin over surrender and doesn’t want a God who tells him how to live. Segment 3: • Breakdancer and self-described atheist challenges the idea of creation with science-based objections. • Admits to lying, stealing, lusting, and using God’s name in vain—but still thinks deep down he’s a good guy. • The gospel is presented as the only solution to his guilt, yet he dismisses it as someone else’s belief system. Segment 4: • Final student is told, point-blank: if God is just, you're in big trouble. • Still insists he’s “a good person deep down,” despite confessing to fornication, blasphemy, and more. • Hears the full gospel and acknowledges its power—but ultimately says it doesn’t align with his logic or desires. ___ 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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Jun 10, 2025 • 55min

HOW TO STAND FIRM IN A CULTURE LOSING ITS MIND

Segment 1 • Antisemitism rises, misgendering becomes criminal, and colleges now teach “adulting” classes. • Todd presents a cultural “train wreck” and asks: which story screams "sign of the times" to you? • Moral confusion and soft totalitarianism are growing fast—can you spot the symptoms? Segment 2 • Emergency contraception at gas stations and cannabis replacing alcohol—what could go wrong? • Porn companies block France over age laws—are they protecting kids or profits? • Cultural boundaries are evaporating. Are you ready to raise your kids in this world? Segment 3 • Preaching isn’t just explaining—it’s exalting Christ with urgency and clarity. • Many pulpits today sound more like seminary lectures than soul-stirring sermons. • Want transformation, not just information? The Bible must be preached with purpose. Segment 4 • Psychedelic drugs are trending in Silicon Valley as faux spiritual awakenings. • Divorce leaves a wake—5 million kids show long-term damage in new study. • The culture offers altered states and broken homes—how should the Church respond? ___ 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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Jun 9, 2025 • 55min

HOW THE BIBLE TRAINS US TO SEE PURPOSE IN OUR PAIN

Segment 1: • Todd reflects on the beauty and order of Huntsville, AL—and what that reveals about respect. • Jason Allen preached Psalm 88: the darkest psalm has layers of hope beneath the surface. • The Bible trains us to look beyond what’s visible—to see purpose behind pain. Segment 2: • Todd returns from Alabama to a banquet and a full sermon on Genesis 3. • God’s patience in the garden reveals His heart—judgment delayed isn’t judgment denied. • If we didn’t know David was “a man after God’s own heart,” would we believe it? Segment 3: • A teen girl describes detaching from her body at 13—drugs, diagnoses, and confusion followed. • Screen time and puberty form a toxic mix that rewires young minds. • Parents must guard their homes—discipline digital habits before culture does it for you. Segment 4: • Digital addiction has made basic real-world interaction a struggle—especially for kids. • Some schools now issue “no-contact orders” to help students navigate friendships. • Before cutting social media cold turkey, consider how the Gospel shapes wise boundaries. ___ 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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Jun 6, 2025 • 55min

EVANGELISM VS. APOLOGETICS: WHAT IF RAY COMFORT FACED THE ATHEISTS?

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Segment 1 • What if Ray Comfort had debated those 20 atheists instead of Jordan Peterson? Would it have changed anything? • I'm a Bible college student struggling with shame and sexual sin—how do I move forward? • How can I help someone understand that how they dress actually matters? Segment 2 • A pastor at my church blocks me online and avoids me in person—what should I do? Segment 3 • Is my baptism still valid if it was performed by someone who later proved to be a false convert? • How should I think biblically about major life decisions like work, marriage, or school? Segment 4 • Is it wrong to leave your native culture for another one? • What encouragement do you have for lonely pastor’s wives? • I shared the gospel with a family member—should I speak again or just keep praying? ___ 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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Jun 5, 2025 • 55min

WHAT’S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT BAPTISM AND HOW IS IT CONNECTED TO COMMUNION?

Segment 1: • Baptism isn’t optional—are you obeying or just attending? • NYT slams the SBC for decline, but biblically faithful churches are growing. • Upcoming SBC resolutions could shift the direction of the denomination. Segment 2: • Chan throws former church members under the bus with zero accountability. • NT Wright offers a confused, pro-choice stance that fumbles biblical clarity. • Christians need courage to stand for life—and wisdom when speaking on it. Segment 3: • AP targets Ken Ham while Rome sells “apostolic blessings” like souvenirs. • Pastors often quit not from failure, but exhaustion and stagnation. • Leaders must know their limits—and churches must know how to support them. Segment 4: • A 5-cent donation sobers Todd—faith isn’t about amount, but sacrifice. • Jehovah’s Witnesses offer works-based salvation—but the true Gospel is grace. • When evangelizing cults, aim straight for the conscience with truth. ___ 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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Jun 4, 2025 • 55min

THE KINDEST ACT IN HISTORY…AND WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU!

It’s Witness Wednesday! Todd Friel conducts is on the campus of Georgia Tech where he engages with several students to discuss the Christian gospel and explores their religious beliefs. Todd will dialogue with those he encounters on spirituality, morality, and the concept of God. Segment 1: • Drew believes a creator exists due to the complexity of life but leans toward deism—God created the world and stepped back. • He acknowledges lying, stealing, and lusting—recognizes guilt if judged by God’s moral standard. • Drew listens intently as the gospel is presented—admits if it's true, it would be the kindest act ever done for him. Segment 2: • Drew wrestles with the seeming contradiction between human imperfection and religion's call to holiness. • He understands how the cross resolves God’s justice and mercy—Jesus was punished in our place. • Drew admits he needs to explore it further but pushes it off—says he’s too busy with school right now. Segment 3: • Todd talks with two female students who claim to be Christians. They can loosely explain the gospel and emphasize repentance and faith, though with some theological fuzziness. • Todd meets Jason, working the inflatable rental. Jason calls himself spiritual but not religious—he rejects church due to perceived hypocrisy. • Jason admits he’s broken many moral laws but still sees himself as a good person—hopes his effort is enough. Segment 4: • Confronted with God’s justice—Jason admits he’d be guilty if judged and might deserve hell. • He learns that Jesus took the punishment on his behalf so he could be freely forgiven. • Challenged to consider the gospel urgently—Todd encourages Jason to read the Bible and decide whether it’s true before it’s too late. ___ 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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Jun 3, 2025 • 55min

YOU’RE NOT ADDICTED—YOU’RE ENSLAVED! HOW TO BATTLE THE PROBLEM OF PORN

Segment 1: • A Guardian report links pornography to pedophilia—and it’s gaining traction. • Addiction isn’t the root—sin is. You’re not powerless. • Over 800 men in the UK are arrested monthly for child porn, and it escalates with exposure. Segment 2: • Porn is showing up in hospital abuse reports—kids are imitating what they see. • A KC hospital saw over 1,000 child abuse cases last year, many tied to porn. • Culture normalizes filth, but Scripture calls it shameful—and dangerous. Segment 3: • Hollywood feeds your appetite for sin—then hands you a mirror. • Men are delaying marriage, stunted by screens and passivity. • The Church must stop consuming what it should be confronting. Segment 4: • Marriage used to be the goal—now it’s optional. • Culture redefines identity, success, and stability—and it’s all unraveling. • Even names and family are no longer fixed in a shifting society. ___ 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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Jun 2, 2025 • 55min

STANDING FIRM OR PURSUING PEACE AT THE SBC ANNUAL MEETING! WHICH PATH IS BEST?

Segment 1: • The Southern Baptist Convention heads to Dallas—and tensions are rising. • Debates over the ERLC’s purpose and women’s roles in the church resurface. • Millions of dollars are at stake—are they fueling mission or bureaucracy? Segment 2: • Todd questions if the SBC is investing more in politics than people. • Al Mohler even questions the ERLC’s effectiveness—so what now? • What if those dollars were redirected to direct gospel work? Segment 3: • The SBC wants unity—but disagreements over essentials threaten that goal. • True unity can’t be built on compromise—it must be rooted in truth. • The Lord’s Table reminds us: sin is deep, but grace is deeper. Segment 4: • As the SBC meets, deeper questions loom: Are we majoring in minors? • MacArthur and Sproul once showed how to disagree without dividing. • Maybe it’s time to refocus on the gospel and rediscover love 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!
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May 30, 2025 • 55min

ARE CHILDREN WHO TURN OUT TO BE EVIL STILL GIFTS FROM GOD?

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Segment 1 • Are all children a gift from God—even when they grow up to do evil? • Is keeping a backup plan doubting God’s call into ministry? • Is throwing away old food sinful or just sensible? Segment 2 • Does Todd know the Mailbag Friday questions ahead of time? • Did the nicotine gum actually work for Todd? • How do I honor my mom without affirming her ongoing adultery? • Is it biblical to call the church “a hospital for sinners”? Segment 3 • My adult child revealed past church abuse—should I take action or let it go? • Should I call my son by his transgender name—or is that affirming sin? • Can Christians still cast lots to make decisions today? • Will we actually see God's face in heaven? Segment 4 • Should I reconsider church membership if the pastor supports broad use of the death penalty? • Was I a false convert if I responded emotionally to a fear-based play as a child? • Why do some people use “Godhead” instead of “Trinity”? – Order the new book, "Lies My Therapist Told Me", by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – 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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May 29, 2025 • 55min

CAN JORDAN PETERSON WIN SOULS WITHOUT THE GOSPEL?

Segment 1: • Jordan Peterson speaks to 20 atheists—but refuses to confess Christ. • His worldview sounds spiritual, but not biblical. • Apologetics can stir minds, but only the gospel saves souls. Segment 2: • Peterson dodges the “Are you a Christian?” question again and again. • Atheists press hard—and his answers only get murkier. • When you rely on intellect, you end up with confusion, not salvation. Segment 3: • Peterson lets atheists question God without pointing them to Christ. • The Bible has answers, but Peterson holds back. • One atheist shows openness—will someone give her the gospel? Segment 4: • Peterson debates morality; the atheists need mercy, not theory. • “Aim up” won’t save anyone—only Jesus crucified for sinners. • A heart-wrenching reminder: truth without Christ is still lostness. – Order the new book, "Lies My Therapist Told Me", by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – 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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