Step Up with Chris Kouba

4.9 (100)
CHRISTIANITY
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The biggest issue in our culture is the passivity of men or men who are stepping up in the wrong things. This has led to confusion, frustration, and brokenness that gets repeated generation after generation. Join Pastor Chris Kouba as he guides you on how to step up in every area of your life.

3D AGO

You’re Not Too Far Gone: Coming Back from Depression

In this continuation of their conversation on depression, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas talk about what it looks like to begin coming back from a dark season. Looking at Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 19, they unpack how God meets His people with tenderness, rest, food, presence, community, and eventually renewed purpose. Pastor Chris shares more from his own experience recovering from a traumatic burn accident and the depression that followed, reflecting on the friends, mentors, and church community who helped carry him through. This episode is a reminder that sometimes the most spiritual next step is to rest, ask for help, let others sit with you, and slowly step back into the work God has given you. For any man who feels too far gone, this conversation offers a deeply personal word of encouragement: God is not done with 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. 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/ Chapter Markers 00:00 – Welcome Back: Continuing the Conversation on Depression 04:15 – Sometimes the Most Spiritual Thing You Can Do Is Rest 07:15 – The Ministry of Presence 12:30 – Asking for Help When You Can’t Muscle Through 17:20 – Getting Out of the Cave and Changing the Routine 22:20 – From Avoidance to Purposeful Action 27:30 – You’re Not Too Far Gone

31 min
APR 21

Naming the Darkness: A Biblical Conversation on Depression

In this honest and deeply personal conversation, Josh Thomas and Pastor Chris Kouba talk about depression, emotional health, and why so many men struggle to admit when they are not okay. Pastor Chris shares his own story of trauma, burnout, fear, and the dark season that followed a life-altering injury, while also pointing listeners to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Together, they explore how depression can show up through anxiety, irritability, overwork, isolation, and emotional numbness, and why men often hide it behind phrases like “I’m just tired,” “I’m just stressed,” or “I just need a vacation.” This episode offers biblical encouragement, practical insight, and a reminder that getting help is not weakness. It is wisdom. 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/ Chapter Markers 00:00 Why men say “I’m good” when they’re not 03:07 Why guys struggle to name what they’re feeling 04:52 Pastor Chris shares his 2016 burn injury and dark season 12:28 Why men resist calling it depression 17:36 Elijah’s collapse after victory in 1 Kings 19 22:12 Physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual causes 36:22 Get help, say it out loud, and move toward healing

39 min
APR 7

Four Words That Define a Man

In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas reflect on the lives of two faithful men whose funerals left a deep impact on them. That conversation leads into a powerful discussion from Job 1:1 and the four qualities used to describe Job: blameless, upright, fears God, and turns away from evil. Together, Chris and Josh challenge men to think honestly about their reputation, their integrity at home, and the kind of legacy they are building right now. 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/

33 min
MAR 24

Delivering Hope: Faith in the Marketplace (Pt. 2) | Todd Stewart

In part two of this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and host Josh Thomas continue their sit-down with Todd Stewart, CEO of Gulf Winds and author of Delivering Hope: Leading a Business That Builds the Kingdom of God. Todd opens up about the hidden weight of leadership, walking through pressure, anxiety, hardship, and the difficult seasons that shaped his faith. He shares how prayer sustained him, how God proved faithful in the middle of business and personal trials, and why generosity, mentorship, and legacy-minded leadership matter so deeply. This episode is a powerful encouragement for any man trying to lead well while trusting God through the hard places. 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 Get Todd’s Book Here: https://a.co/d/0gBNeSGf Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast Follow United City: @untdcitychurch Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

38 min
MAR 10

Delivering Hope: Faith in the Marketplace (Pt. 1) | Todd Stewart

In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas sit down with Todd Stewart, CEO of Gulf Winds and author of Delivering Hope: Leading a Business That Builds the Kingdom of God. Todd shares his story of coming to faith, joining his family’s business in its earliest days, and eventually helping lead Gulf Winds into remarkable growth. But more than a business success story, this conversation is about what it looks like to see your workplace as a mission field. Together, they talk about leading with excellence, living out your faith on the job, building a healthy company culture, navigating the tension between profit and purpose, and trusting God with both opportunity and people. Todd offers practical encouragement for men who want to honor Christ in the marketplace without overcomplicating what faithfulness looks like. If you’ve ever wondered how to integrate your faith and your work in a real, grounded, everyday way, 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. Show Notes Get Todd’s Book Here: https://a.co/d/0gBNeSGf Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcast Follow United City: @untdcitychurch Connect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.com More About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

32 min
FEB 24

Decision Paralysis | Step Up Podcast

Ever spend so much time scrolling for the perfect show that you end up watching nothing? Josh and Pastor Chris dive in on the topic of “decision paralysis” and how at the end of the day, it’s a leadership problem. In this episode, they unpack Joshua 24:14–15 (“As for me and my house…”) and challenge men to become decisive about the things that actually matter. They talk about the difference between conviction and courage, why “I’m all in… unless You touch this” is really surrender with fine print, and how even good blessings can become weights that hold you back. From “proxy faith” to practical next steps, the call is simple: stop drifting, draw the line, plant the flag, and watch what God does on the other side of full surrender. 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/

30 min
FEB 10

Trust the Process

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/

31 min
JAN 27

Stones in the River: Remembering God's Faithfulness

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. 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/

33 min

See All (47)

4.9

out of 5

100 Ratings

Truth

01/21/2025

Nolan McClosky

Chris has an unusual ability to tell men exactly what they need to hear. Even if it may not be what they want to hear, he has the courage and conviction to say what needs to be said.
The 70/30 principal

08/05/2024

Keva57

I finally got a chance to listened to Chris and Dave’s podcast and totally enjoyed every one!! God is doing an amazing work through Chris at UCC and lives are being transformed every week. These podcast have helped me to know the heart of the man that “rescued” my wife and I during one of the darkest seasons of our life with his preaching and teaching. Thank you Chris Kouba for allowing God to speak through you in such a powerful manner! All of these episodes should be required listening material for every father! 🙏
Become a God Led Leader

06/14/2024

ExtremelyMe

Pastor Chris has a deep passion for and commitment to growing leaders through their relationship with the Lord. He has profoundly impacted my husband's spiritual journey by leading him to be in the word daily and step up to the role God prepared for him. Chris's weekly sermons have convicted me to refine my spiritual habits and encouraged me in ways I've not previously experienced. I have no doubt that this Step Up podcast will help you experience abundant spiritual growth as well. Listen up then take your next step!
Needs to be Stronger in Christ

07/21/2024

The_Real_Skeet

I made it through the first 3 episodes, and episode 1 seemed to have some promise. Still weak, and nothing with Christ in focus. Episode 2 talked of “raising men”, but nothing Biblical at all in the episode. The episode focused around a “man trip” for a boy who was turning 13; going from boy to man. Sounded great, and I was anxious to listen. The “man trip” was about the child’s idol basketball player and front row tickets purchased for him. Now the speakers have a passion for this basketball player and he’s not such a bad guy. So, we have a episode dialing in on idolatry and sports, not Jesus! Episode 3, the commentators speak of decision making and no longer being passive. Again, sounds promising. The passivity of Adam is alive more so now than ever. The talk was over new vehicle purchasing and new TV purchasing. A desire to have a flashy new sporty SUV, and a new TV. Again, idolatry. Unfortunate that we see a podcast with a preacher, enticing men to listen with all the things the worldly-man is already consumed with: sports, cars, TVs. Shame. You should bring men in with preaching of Jesus and how Jesus teaches us how to be a man; not the world. Unsubscribed and done listening.

The biggest issue in our culture is the passivity of men or men who are stepping up in the wrong things. This has led to confusion, frustration, and brokenness that gets repeated generation after generation. Join Pastor Chris Kouba as he guides you on how to step up in every area of your life.