Step Up with Chris Kouba

What do you do when you know where God is calling you… but there’s a wall in the way?

In this episode, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack Joshua 6 and the battle of Jericho. God gives Joshua a strategy that feels completely counterintuitive: march, stay silent, and trust Him. From the “stall” of smoking brisket to the grind of daily faithfulness, they talk about what it looks like to wait well, keep showing up, guard your mouth, and remember the outcome because you’re not fighting for victory, you’re fighting from it.

If you’re in a season where nothing seems to be changing, this one’s for you. Keep marching. Day seven is coming.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Show Notes

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast

Follow United City: @untdcitychurch

Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com

More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

What do you do when you’re in “flood season”, when life feels fast, heavy, and uncertain?

In this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas dig into Joshua 4 and the powerful moment when God tells Israel to build memorials after crossing the Jordan River—one on the riverbank and one set in the river. Why two? Because we forget. And when we forget where we’ve been, we lose confidence about where we’re going.

They talk about practical ways to remember and recount God’s faithfulness like journaling, physical reminders, and intentionally telling the “God stories” to your kids, your wife, your friends, and the people you lead. If you’re in the middle of something right now, this one is for you: God is faithful at the finish line and He’s faithful in the middle too!

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast

Follow United City: @untdcitychurch

Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com

More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

What do you do when life demands more from you than you feel ready to give?

In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas continue their conversation through Joshua 1, unpacking what it truly means to step up—not because you feel qualified, but because God has called you.

From leadership and marriage to parenting, friendships, and everyday decisions, this conversation challenges men to move from passivity to responsibility. You’ll hear why courage isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you build—and how grounding your life in God’s Word shapes the way you lead, decide, and act.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not ready for this,” this episode is for you. Ready or not, the call is clear: step up.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

As 2025 comes to a close, Josh Thomas and Pastor Chris Kouba reflect on a big year personally and at United City—and then pivot into a highly practical conversation about fasting as they head into 2026. They unpack why “the discipline of disconnecting” is often the missing piece for men who feel spiritually dry, distracted, or overloaded.

Pastor Chris explains how fasting creates the kind of intentional emptiness that makes room to hear from God again—because, as he puts it, “most men are too full to hear from God.” From full schedules and nonstop entertainment to constant phone-checking and comfort habits, the problem often isn’t a lack of information—it’s a lack of space.

This episode is also a step-by-step guide: what fasting is, why Jesus assumes we’ll do it, how to choose a fast, what to do during a fast, and what to expect (including the famous “don’t quit on Tuesday or Wednesday” moment). If you want 2026 to be marked by clarity, hunger for God, and a deeper walk—this one’s for you.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.  

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast

Follow United City: @untdcitychurch

Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com

More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

What do you do when the moment arrives—and you don’t feel ready?

In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack one of the most defining leadership moments in Scripture: “Moses, my servant, is dead. Now therefore arise…” (Joshua 1). It’s a sobering, powerful reminder that while mentors, seasons, and circumstances may change, God does not.

Through honest stories of leadership transitions, parenting teenagers, ministry decisions, and personal calling, this conversation challenges men to stop waiting for perfect preparation and start stepping forward in faith. Whether you’re facing a promotion, loss, unexpected responsibility, or a moment that feels bigger than you, this episode reminds you that stepping up isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting the presence of God.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church. 

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast

Follow United City: @untdcitychurch

Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com

More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas tackle the tension every man feels between the fear of God and the fear of man. Starting with Halloween, haunted houses, spiders, and flying cockroaches, they move into a deeper conversation about why not all fear is bad—and how a healthy fear can actually lead to courage, wisdom, and confidence, while unhealthy fear keeps you paralyzed.

Looking at the story of Joshua and Caleb and the ten spies in Numbers 13, Pastor Chris contrasts people-pleasing, image-management, and comfort-seeking with a life anchored in conviction and the fear of the Lord. From work integrity, to pornography, to dads holding the line on phones, budgets, and boundaries at home, this episode invites men to step out of people-pleasing and into the freedom of living before an audience of One.

If you’ve ever felt muted, stuck, or scared of what others will think, this conversation will help you name your fears, take one obedient next step, and model courageous conviction for your kids and the people you lead. 

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.  

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast

Follow United City: @untdcitychurch

Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com

More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

In this powerful episode of the Step Up podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas dive into the everyday decisions that shape a man’s character. Using a real-life car repair dilemma and the biblical story of Joseph in Genesis 39, they unpack what integrity truly looks like when no one is watching—and when doing the right thing actually costs you something.

This episode outlines three critical questions every man must ask to evaluate his character, influence, and spiritual resilience. From handling temptation, to stewarding influence, to standing firm when obedience feels expensive, this conversation is a timely challenge for men who want to honor God in both the big moments and the quiet Tuesdays of life.

If you're ready to grow, lead well, and pursue holiness in a culture that celebrates shortcuts, this episode will equip and encourage you.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.  

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast

Follow United City: @untdcitychurch

Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com

More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

In this episode of Step Up, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas tackle a challenge that hits home for men everywhere — how to truly engage and lead well when you walk through the front door. From cultural confusion about masculinity to the biblical call to love your wife and lead your family, this conversation is honest, convicting, and practical. Learn what it looks like to be a provider, protector, student, and cherisher, and why spiritual leadership at home shapes everything about your relationship with God.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast

Follow United City: @untdcitychurch

Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com

More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

Your job isn’t just about a paycheck—it’s part of God’s bigger plan. In this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas unpack what Scripture says about work, ambition, and calling. From Genesis to the modern workplace, they reveal how we can pursue excellence without losing sight of what truly matters. If you’ve ever wondered whether your work really matters to God, this episode is for you.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast

Follow United City: @untdcitychurch

Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com

More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

What happens when a dad drops his daughter off at college for the first time? In this episode, Pastor Chris Kouba joins Host Josh Thomas to share the raw emotions, hard lessons, and spiritual insights from navigating this life-changing milestone. From the four stages of parenting to the power of early investment and tough conversations, Pastor Chris offers wisdom that every parent—especially dads of daughters—needs to hear.

If you’re raising kids, preparing for an empty nest, or just needing encouragement in the messy, beautiful journey of fatherhood, this episode will challenge you to step up and savor every season.

To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.

Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast

Follow United City: @untdcitychurch

Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com

More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/