Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

It’s Witness Wednesday! Todd talks with four students on campus, each with some kind of religious background or moral framework. Across the episode, Todd keeps pressing the same essential issue: God is just, man is guilty, and Jesus Christ is the only Savior. The gospel is not moral improvement, religious heritage, spiritual preference, or doing the best you can. It is Christ taking the punishment sinners deserve and crediting His righteousness to those who repent and trust Him.

Segment 1

• Casey believes “karma” settles the score—but who’s actually keeping track of right and wrong?

• If morality is just personal preference, why does guilt feel so real—and so unavoidable?

• Casey admits he doesn’t know the gospel… so what happens when God judges by His standard, not yours?

Segment 2

• Nathan says he believes in God—but when asked why, he can’t give a clear answer. Would you?

• If you think you’re a “good person,” do you actually pass God’s test—or fail it completely?

• The pieces finally connect: if Jesus died for sinners… what does that require from you right now?

Segment 3

• Kevin has a Methodist background—but can’t explain what he actually believes. Does that sound familiar?

• If nobody’s perfect, shouldn’t effort count? Or does God demand something far higher?

• The courtroom analogy hits hard: if you’re guilty, how can justice and mercy both be satisfied?

Segment 4

• A graduate student thinks grace + good works might balance out—but is that how salvation works?

• What if your best deeds are still corrupted at the root—would that change everything?

• Justification vs. sanctification: are you trusting Christ alone… or subtly trusting yourself?

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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!

Segment 1

• What did it actually cost to join the early church—and would you qualify today?

• Membership wasn’t casual: years of catechesis, believer’s baptism, and rigorous accountability defined entry.

• Is your church’s view of membership and discipline a shadow of what it once was?

Segment 2

• When was the last time a sermon truly gripped your soul with the beauty of Christ?

• Preaching has shifted—less weighty, less piercing, less “soul-melting” than what marked earlier eras.

• Do modern pulpits aim for transformation…or just information?

Segment 3

• Are government institutions quietly targeting faithful churches for what they preach?

• Reports surface of federal scrutiny—raising questions about religious freedom in practice, not just theory.

• From Puritan practices to modern pressure: are we prepared for what may be coming?

Segment 4

• Why does cultural confusion keep escalating—even in something as simple as school authority?

• From bizarre identity claims to inverted values, the culture isn’t neutral—it’s discipling.

• If everything feels like it’s unraveling, are Christians ignoring the obvious solution?

___

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!

Segment 1

• A federal court just disrupted abortion pill access—does this finally close the “mail-order” loophole?

• Lawmakers press the uncomfortable question: if you advocate abortion, will you actually defend the methods used?

• Graphic realities surface—what does it say about a nation that funds and normalizes this?

Segment 2

• Are cultural elites trying to turn your kids against you—and calling it “justice”?

• A new push claims older generations are the problem… but is this just recycled Marxism?

• What happens when society blames grandma instead of bad policy, debt, and inflation?

Segment 3

• Why are pastors apologizing for Scripture—and what does that reveal about modern preaching?

• If God commands something the culture hates, who do you trust: your instincts or His authority?

• One word—“likewise”—could reshape how you understand roles, submission, and obedience

Segment 4

• Are churches discipling kids—or just entertaining them to keep families coming back?

• What if youth ministry isn’t broken—but fundamentally misaligned with Scripture?

• Could older believers—not programs—be the missing key to lasting faith in the next 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!

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Segment 1

• Anonymous asks: Can cutting off your parents ever be biblical—or are Christians expected to endure toxic family relationships forever?

• A listener wonders: Would kneeling before King Charles during a knighthood ceremony compromise Christian convictions?

• Anonymous asks: Do Christians really have authority to cast out demons today—or is modern spiritual warfare culture misleading people?

• Can you be a Christian and not fear God? -Joe

Segment 2

• Matt asks: Should a man become an elder or deacon if his wife may not actually be saved?

• Mr. John wrestles with a massive salvation question: If repentance is required, does that secretly make salvation a work?

• Anonymous asks: How do you biblically deal with someone who turns every conversation into an argument?

Segment 3

• Bekah asks a heartbreaking question: After an abortion years ago, is it wrong to stop feeling guilty—and how do you heal without forgetting your child?

• Eric asks: Are altar calls biblical… or have they created confusion and false conversions?

• Todd tackles a difficult pastoral reality: How should churches minister to Christians carrying deep shame from past abortions?

Segment 4

• Kenneth asks: Is low-stakes poker with church leaders harmless fellowship—or spiritually dangerous gambling?

• A listener struggles with conscience and liberty: Can something technically permissible still become sinful for you personally?

• Todd explores a bigger issue behind “harmless fun”: How close should Christians get to the line before wisdom says walk away?

___

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!

Segment 1

• Todd reviews King Charles’ recent speech.

• King Charles refers to himself as the “defender of faiths”, plural - here’s why that makes a big difference.

• If tolerance is the goal, why does criticism seem aimed primarily at Christians?

Segment 2

• Why are Christians told to be more accepting while persecution elsewhere goes ignored?

• There’s a big double standard for different religions. For example, see what happens when someone critiques Islam in the UK.

• Is “interfaith unity” masking deeper inconsistencies in how religions are treated?

Segment 3

• A blunt question: If you died today… would you know where you’re going?

• If someone says they’re a Christian, why would they answer that question with “I don’t know”?

• One thing people add to the requirements for salvation may be what’s causing this lack of assurance.

Segment 4

• What do you do when your workplace is toxic, humiliating, and draining your joy?

• You’re not stuck, or there on accident - there’s a purpose there that you may not see.

• How could enduring mistreatment increase your peace instead of destroying it?

___

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!