Mailbag Friday: Why Did Apologetics Anger Penn Jillette? + Is Topical Preaching Wrong? + Raising Godly Children

What makes a sermon truly powerful? Todd reflects on Tim Challies’ preaching, explains where he differs with John Mark Comer on spiritual disciplines, and shares an important lesson from Challies about trusting God when suffering doesn’t make sense. Segment 1 • What gives a sermon real “oomph”—powerful delivery, great writing, or something more? • Tim Challies shows how a soft-spoken preacher can still deliver a sermon with serious impact. • The goal of preaching isn’t impressive oratory—it’s to help you see Christ more clearly and love Him more. Segment 2 • Todd compares Go Serve Your King with John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way. Where do their approaches differ? • Should spiritual disciplines produce an integrated Christian life—or should knowing and loving Christ drive those disciplines? • What’s the difference between systematic, biblical, and historical theology, and how should theology actually change you? Segment 3 • When someone is suffering, even good theology can be delivered at the wrong time. • Tim Challies shares lessons learned through the devastating loss of his son about grief, comfort, and simply being present. • You may never see the good God brings from your suffering in this life—do you still have reason to trust Him? Segment 4 • Do you constantly wonder, “Am I really saved?” or “Have I repented enough?” • Your feelings aren’t a reliable measure of your salvation—so what biblical signs should you look for? • How trusting Christ and leaning on your local church can help break the cycle of constantly questioning your salvation. Preorder Todd Friel’s new book, Go Serve Your King: The Key to Extraordinary Purpose in Everyday Life, available December 1. Preorder your copy at https://FortisInstitute.org/King ___ 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 • My mother-in-law is an Anglican deaconess who preaches and is becoming increasingly liberal. Are we obligated to keep confronting her about our disagreements, or should we let it go and pray for her? — Amanda Segment 2 • We want to raise our two young boys to be godly men. How do we work on their hearts instead of just modifying their behavior, and what should we use for Bible study at their age? — Sam • Is there a place for topical preaching, or should preaching always be expository? Is listening to topical sermons for targeted growth wrong? — Alex Segment 3 • What is presuppositional apologetics, and why can using it in evangelism make people angry? — Shantai Segment 4 • What can Penn Jillette’s reaction teach us about how we use presuppositional apologetics in evangelism? • How should we deal with anti-Semitic thinking that seems to be appearing in Christian circles, especially when it enters the local church? — Anonymous ___ 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 be a faithful Christian without being committed to a local church? The very real problem of church hurt raises another difficult question: if a church has deeply wounded you, where do you go from there? Segment 1 •Kevin DeYoung answers the Christian who says, “I don’t need to go to church.” • The church is a body, a building, and a bride—why does each picture matter? • Does the Great Commission actually support Christian nationalism? Segment 2 • Church hurt is real—but should it cause you to abandon the local church? • Kevin DeYoung explains why you can’t separate Jesus from His body and bride. • Been burned by a church? Here’s what to look for when finding a healthy one. Segment 3 • A double-murder case is dismissed because the accused is mentally incompetent—what about justice for the victims? • Transgender procedures for children compared to circumcision. Does that comparison hold up? • What happens when a culture loses a biblical understanding of human value? Segment 4 • Why is Britain teaching asylum seekers that rape and sexual harassment are crimes? • You can impose rules—but can laws create moral people? • How religion shapes culture—and why that should motivate Christians to evangelize. ___ 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 Witness Wednesday! Why should we care about people we’ve never met? At Georgia Tech, Todd challenges students to explain compassion from an evolutionary worldview, then talks with a Catholic student about purgatory, repentance, and what separates the Gospel from religious works. Segment 1 • Why should you care about someone suffering 5,000 miles away? • Can evolution provide a consistent reason for compassion and self-sacrifice? • You don’t have to evangelize like Todd—find your own “fishing hole” and start with one person. Segment 2 • A Catholic student admits God isn’t the number-one affection in his life. • If we’ve broken God’s law, should we expect heaven—or judgment? • Is purgatory the answer to our guilt before a holy God? Segment 3 • Knowing Jesus died on the cross isn’t the same as being born again. • What do repentance and faith actually look like? • Todd explains the crucial difference between the biblical Gospel and trying to earn salvation through religion. Segment 4 • One student thinks Christianity is basically karma: do good and good will come back to you. • “I’m not that awful of a person.” But what does God’s standard reveal? • Christianity isn’t about good people earning heaven—it’s about guilty people being saved by Christ. ___ 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!

Christian nationalism promises a more Christian society—but is giving the government power to enforce Christianity actually biblical? Todd looks at what Scripture and history have to say before turning to a $17 million child sponsorship controversy and some troubling church news. Segment 1 • Is it time for Christians to finally render a verdict on Christian nationalism? • Where does the Bible actually tell the church to impose Christianity through the state? • Why Todd believes Christian nationalism is creating real problems inside local churches. Segment 2 • Christian nationalism has been tried before—what can we learn from the results? • If the government enforces Christianity, who gets to decide which version of Christianity wins? • Todd argues Christians should invest their energy in the Gospel rather than political power. Segment 3 • A Christian band reportedly made $17 million promoting child sponsorships—but is that actually wrong? • Would you accept a cut every time someone sponsored a child because of your endorsement? • Before rushing to judgment, there may be another side to this controversial arrangement. Segment 4 • When does a paid ministry endorsement cross the line from legitimate business to something unseemly? • Thousands of persecuted Christians desperately need refuge—are we remembering our suffering brothers and sisters? • Raves at St. Paul’s Cathedral—and another warning about mixing church and state. ___ 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 popular story of the Crusades says Christians were the aggressors—but is that what actually happened? Todd separates history from myth before turning to some of the biggest struggles Christians face today—and how you can become better equipped to help someone who is hurting. Segment 1 • Were the Crusades really an unprovoked Christian attack on the Muslim world? • Discover the centuries of history that often get left out of the story. • The one fact about the Crusades worth remembering the next time someone brings them up. Segment 2 • Were Crusaders really greedy opportunists looking to get rich? • Why were men willing to risk bankruptcy—and face staggering casualty rates—to participate? • Did the Crusades create Muslim hostility toward Christians? The timeline tells a different story. Segment 3 • Assurance, anxiety, pornography, comparison, loneliness—are you equipped to help someone who is struggling? • Learn how to address real problems without twisting Scripture to fit someone’s “felt needs.” • Someone opens up to you about a serious struggle. Here’s what not to do first. Segment 4 • Can genuine Christians struggle with doubt? Absolutely—and how you respond matters. • What should you say when someone tells you they can’t “feel” God’s presence? • Learn to ask better questions and point struggling Christians toward what will actually strengthen them. ___ 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 • What is your opinion on the Book of Enoch? — Anonymous Segment 2 • From what I’ve seen, a church evangelism program goes nowhere if the lead pastor isn’t actively involved. Do you agree? — Jay • Should I stay at and get baptized in a Bible-believing church that sings Hillsong and sometimes lets women read Scripture, lead prayer, and welcome the congregation? — Ella Segment 3 • Is reflexology a sin? — Nancy • Is it a sin to clip your fingernails in the office? — James Segment 4 • Would you consider “Make Evangelism Great Again” (MEGA) as a merch idea? — Brian • How can I respond biblically when I feel overlooked, less valued, or less capable than someone else without becoming discouraged or obsessed with proving myself? — Tom • What do you think about gospel tracts disguised as $5, $10, and $20 bills? As a former server, I loathe them. — Tristan ___ 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!

Kids are being told transition will solve their distress—and sometimes that the alternative is suicide. Todd examines the stories of two young people who were swept into transgender ideology and later rejected it, revealing how schools, social media, peers, therapists, and doctors can influence vulnerable kids. Segment 1 • Layla Jane began questioning her gender after years of emotional struggles. • Social media helped convince her that transitioning could be the answer. • At just 13, she underwent a mastectomy. Segment 2 • What wasn’t Layla told before taking testosterone and having surgery? • Transition promised happiness—but it didn't resolve her underlying struggles. • Todd examines the evidence surrounding puberty blockers and youth mental health. Segment 3 • Simon Amaya Price describes the brokenness that preceded his transgender identity. • School and online influences gave him a new explanation for his struggles. • How does transgender ideology spread among vulnerable teenagers? Segment 4 • Simon says nearly every professional he encountered affirmed his transgender identity. • His father said no to medical transition—and Simon is now grateful he did. • What should parents and churches learn from these stories? ___ 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 Witness Wednesday at Georgia Tech! Could you explain the gospel if someone put you on the spot? Todd talks with Christian students, tackles tough abortion questions, and challenges an atheist who thinks good people go to heaven. Segment 1 • A Christian physics student sees evidence of a Creator everywhere—but can he clearly explain the gospel? • Why understanding our sin is essential to understanding the love of Christ. Segment 2 • Todd gives a group of Christian students 60 seconds to convince him to become a Christian. • Is telling someone “God loves you” enough—or are we leaving out the very reason Jesus had to die? Segment 3 • Is abortion ever justified because of rape, incest, disability, or difficult circumstances? • Todd brings the debate back to one fundamental question: What is the unborn child? Segment 4 • An atheist thinks Christianity is about being good enough to get into heaven. Is that actually the gospel? • Todd challenges his claim to being a “good person” before explaining why salvation isn’t something we can earn. ___ 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!

Biblical preaching should give you more than a few helpful ideas for the week. Todd contrasts expository preaching with the me-centered “TED Talk” approach, offers a biblical grid for evaluating worship music, and tackles a listener’s question about whether women should serve Communion. Segment 1 • Todd introduces the heart behind his new book, Go Serve Your King. Pre-Order today at FortisInstitute.org/King • Why your faith shouldn’t occupy a separate spiritual category from your work, money, recreation, family, and everyday responsibilities. • Christianity isn’t a checklist. Learn how ordinary faithfulness in the life God has already given you can glorify your King. Segment 2 • What’s the difference between biblical expository preaching and a Christianized TED Talk? • Does your pastor begin with what God has said—or with a topic, felt need, story, or cultural trend? • Todd gives seven questions you can use to evaluate the preaching you hear every Sunday. Segment 3 • Todd examines Andy Stanley’s sermons and asks whether they’re teaching you the Bible—or simply teaching you Andy Stanley’s ideas. • Is your worship music primarily about God and His glory, or about you and your experience? • Five questions to consider when evaluating whether the songs your church sings are biblically faithful, God-centered, and appropriate for congregational worship. Segment 4 • A missionary planting an underground church challenges Todd’s view on women administering the Lord’s Supper. • Does Scripture actually require elders or men to distribute Communion—or are we turning a biblical pattern into a rule? • Should women read Scripture in the gathered church? Todd considers where participation ends and teaching authority begins. ___ 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!