Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Segment 1 • Why Peter’s command to “be holy” feels crushing—and why that reaction might expose a deeper misunderstanding. • Holiness reframed: not a killjoy command, but the pathway to joy, assurance, and deep fellowship with God. • The real choice behind every temptation: fleeting pleasure… or lasting peace? Segment 2 • Sin’s marketing strategy: it whispers fulfillment but delivers regret, secrecy, and spiritual paralysis. • Practical holiness: the direct connection between obedience and clear conscience, bold prayer, and usefulness. • Want discernment, victory over temptation, and spiritual confidence? There’s only one route. Segment 3 • Troubled by sermons on “signs you’re not saved”? Why that anxiety may actually be evidence of life. • The better diagnostic question: not “Am I perfect?” but “Do I desire to obey?” • Identity in Christ: why remembering who you are matters more than grading your performance. Segment 4 • $750,000 fines for saying there are two genders—what’s really happening beneath the headlines? • When depraved thinking becomes law: why the real crisis isn’t political but spiritual. • The only lasting solution to moral chaos isn’t outrage—it’s regeneration. ___ 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!

Listeners ask about helping a friend with depression and when to involve parents or church. They explore biblical resources and motives for fasting. The silence of churches on abortion and how to address it is discussed. Conversation covers keeping awe in the Christian life and wrestling with doubts about salvation and assurance.

A critique of modern theology that elevates humanity while shrinking God’s glory. A look at moral inversion in public life and why outrage often targets the wrong things. Discussion of cultural virtue signaling versus true evil. A defense of bolder gospel preaching that balances God’s terror and mercy and questions whether grace has been softened.

On-the-street interviews probe sin, judgment, and what it means to be saved. A parachute analogy contrasts following Jesus for blessings versus escape from punishment. Passersby wrestle with being "good enough," moral relativism, human worth, and how to explain repentance and faith in a crisis.

A tour through how a single philosophical shift reshaped modern identity and moral thinking. Stories from secular classrooms and real evangelism encounters highlight why intellectual debate alone rarely changes hearts. Deep scholarly work behind biblical terms is showcased. A large study on aerobic exercise versus antidepressants is discussed alongside faith, community, and mental resilience.

Segment 1 • How Oprah has contributed to the disintegration of the family. • A bestselling self-help movement is convincing millions to cut off their parents in the name of “freedom”—and it’s reshaping families everywhere. • The explosive rise of “ghosting your parents” isn’t random, but a consequence of a predominant worldview. Segment 2 • A shocking study reveals 67 million Americans are estranged from family, with many saying it’s for the sake of their mental health. • Social media and therapeutic language are redefining normal disagreements as “toxic abuse”. • The Bible offers a radically different framework: the people who frustrate you the most may be God’s primary tool to sanctify you. Segment 3 • The painful question every ghosted parent asks: should you fight for the relationship—or let them walk away? • The hidden parenting mistake that unintentionally pushes adult children further away. • Gen Z’s disturbing reinterpretation of Jesus reveals how cultural programming is reshaping how the next generation sees Christ. Segment 4 • A governor’s executive order banning “conversion therapy” could criminalize basic biblical counseling and gospel conversations. • Legal definitions are expanding so broadly that simply calling sin “sin” could be labeled harmful or illegal. • The American Medical Association quietly reverses course on gender procedures for minors—raising urgent questions about truth, authority, and agenda. ___ 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!

Listeners submit dilemmas about faith and feeling versus mere head-knowledge. Conversations touch on forgiveness and whether it needs an apology. Issues around the sinner’s prayer and literal Bible reading come up. There is debate about cigar and whiskey fads among believers. Remarriage rules and ethical choices about life‑prolonging medical care are also discussed.

They challenge the common narrative about the Crusades and who actually controlled the Middle East before Islam’s expansion. They unpack whether crusaders sought wealth or sacrificed everything for belief. They spotlight quiet struggles in modern Christian life like doubt, loneliness, and pornography. They offer practical ways churches and individuals can respond to and support those wrestling with faith.

Conversation with a library-bound student who questions design and moral accountability, and a French aerospace engineering student who leans atheist/agnostic but is open to discussing design, conscience, and the gospel. Short, direct dialogues probe whether order implies a designer, how conscience points to moral law, and what repentance and trust in Christ would mean.

Segment 1 • Is evangelicalism actually at a historic low—or on the brink of revival? • Past “golden ages” of evangelical influence actually collapsed faster than expected. • The real reason that faithful churches often do better without celebrity leaders. Segment 2 • Why social media influence may be incapable of sustaining biblical faithfulness. • The hidden dangers of untethered Christian platforms without institutional accountability. • History shows us a repeating pattern of influence, drift, and collapse. Segment 3 • Is “cultural contextualization” helping the church—or hollowing it out from within? • Replacing biblical language subtly reshapes the gospel itself. • Why trying to sound less Christian may cost the church its power entirely. Segment 4 • Does every church need a “lead pastor”—or is that unbiblical? • How leadership authority actually functions inside a healthy plurality of elders. • Rushing to replace a prominent pastor can damage a church for decades. ___ 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!