Send us a text

In this episode of Sacred & Strange, host Jay Urena sits down with longtime friend, mentor, and fellow Bible nerd Rip Wahlberg for a raw, thoughtful conversation about calling, loss, theology, and the evolving shape of church and leadership.

Rip shares his journey from bi-vocational pastor to biblical theology enthusiast, opening up about his decades of ministry, the painful loss of his son Aiden just weeks after accepting a pastoral role, and how that tragedy reshaped his understanding of faith, community, and purpose. The two unpack the differences between preaching and teaching, the burnout of institutional leadership, and why many modern churches have traded discipleship for performance.

Together, they explore the beauty of biblical theology, the four major narrative themes Rip teaches (Temple, Kingdom, Bride, and Exile), and the need to reclaim God's story as the center of our faith—not just systems, doctrines, or conferences. Along the way, they laugh about heresies, reference Stranger Things, and reflect on what it means to show up broken, still called, and fully dependent on grace.

Whether you're a church leader, a theology nerd, or someone wondering how to keep going when ministry hurts, this episode will meet you where you are—with honesty, depth, and hope.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:28 Rip's Background and Ministry Journey

02:54 Balancing Ministry and Personal Life

05:11 Challenges in Church Leadership

11:26 Defining Preaching vs. Teaching

20:45 Rip's Calling and Early Ministry

34:14 Tragedy and Resilience

37:15 The Drive to Continue Ministry

47:56 Embracing the Calling

48:21 The Vision for Teaching

49:36 Understanding the Story of God

50:15 The Role of the Church and Individual

50:51 The Beauty of Biblical Theology

53:47 The Mission of God and Exile

56:25 The Revival of Biblical Theology

01:08:19 Challenges and Reflections on Ministry

01:11:29 The Importance of Community and Relationships

01:32:44 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Support the show