We live in a world that celebrates busyness, productivity, and always being available. But what happens when we slow down long enough to hear from God?
In the Season 3 premiere of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas discuss the life-changing lessons Chris learned during his recent sabbatical. From disconnecting from technology and creating healthier boundaries to rediscovering the biblical practice of Sabbath, Chris shares how stepping away from the constant noise of life transformed his understanding of rest, productivity, and trusting God.
Together, they explore why rest is more than simply taking a day off, how our desire to stay busy can reveal a deeper struggle with control, and why creating space for God's presence is essential to spiritual health. This conversation challenges men to stop measuring their worth by what they accomplish and begin living with a greater dependence on the Lord.
Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities, struggling to disconnect, or simply looking for a healthier rhythm of life, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the most productive thing you can do is stop, rest, and trust God.
To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.
 
Connect with Us
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 – Intro
01:05 – Why Pastor Chris Took a Sabbatical
02:21 – Disconnecting from Technology and Discovering Digital Freedom
06:03 – Creating Healthier Boundaries with Technology
09:27 – Slowing Down to Hear God's Voice
13:20 – Rediscovering the Biblical Practice of Sabbath
16:15 – Trusting God to Work When You're Not Working
19:20 – It's Not a Productivity Problem. It's a Trust Problem.
21:20 – Finding Your Identity Beyond What You Accomplish
26:57 – Learning to Follow God's Timing Instead of Your Own
28:04 – Becoming More Spirit-Led Than Plan-Led
32:24 – Practical Ways to Start Practicing Sabbath

Fatherhood can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a brand-new dad, raising teenagers, watching your kids leave the house, or trying to reconnect after a difficult season, most dads carry the quiet fear that they’re not doing enough.In this Father’s Day episode of the Step Up Podcast, Josh and Pastor Chris have an honest conversation about what fatherhood really requires. They talk about the pressure to provide, the danger of being present physically but passive emotionally, what kids most need to hear from their dads, and how spiritual leadership starts with simply following Jesus in front of your family.This episode is a reminder that dads don’t have to be perfect. But they do need to be present, humble, prayerful, and intentional. Your greatest ministry may not be the work you do outside your home, but the life you live inside it.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 NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/Chapter Markers00:00 – Welcome to the Step Up Podcast00:45 – Father’s Day, Coaching, and Family Stories05:59 – What Fatherhood Really Feels Like13:09 – Provision, Presence, and the Pressure Dads Carry17:56 – Fighting Passivity at Home20:03 – What Kids Need From Their Dad22:59 – Leading Your Family Spiritually Without Being Perfect27:50 – Encouragement for Overwhelmed and Disconnected Dads36:19 – Final Father’s Day Encouragement

Marriage is one of the most important relationships in a man’s life, but it does not stay healthy by accident. In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas talk honestly about what causes couples to drift emotionally, how to pursue your spouse through exhausting seasons, and why communication, forgiveness, and intentionality matter so much.From intimacy struggles and unmet expectations to conflict, betrayal, and rebuilding trust, this conversation gives men practical handles for loving, leading, and serving their wives with humility and faithfulness. Whether your marriage is thriving or barely hanging on, this episode is a reminder that God sees you, your church is with you, and your marriage is worth fighting for.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 NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/Chapter Markers00:00 — Golf, Marriage, and Ridiculous Arguments05:16 — Why Couples Drift Emotionally09:59 — Pursuing Your Wife Again11:27 — Protecting Marriage in Exhausting Seasons15:48 — Intimacy, Affection, and Feeling Wanted21:25 — Unspoken Expectations and Communication25:33 — Forgiveness, Trust, and Rebuilding After Hurt31:04 — Quick Tips: Boundaries, Date Nights, Books, and Marriage Advice

In this episode of the Step Up Podcast, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas have a conversation around relationships, dating, and biblical manhood through the lens of the Song of Solomon.They talk honestly about singleness, fear of commitment, dating with clarity, and why men should approach relationships with intention instead of ambiguity. Pastor Chris challenges men to stop treating dating casually, to lead with honesty, to pursue holiness before boundaries are tested, and to trust God with their relationship status.Whether you are single, dating, engaged, married, or raising sons and daughters, this conversation offers practical and biblical wisdom for honoring God and others in 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.Show NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/Chapter Markers00:00 – Why Talk About Dating?05:30 – Singleness Is Not a Disease11:00 – What Is Dating For?17:30 – Fear, Ambiguity, and Commitment24:30 – Boundaries, Purity, and Honoring God’s Daughter34:00 – Know God, Walk with the Church, and Date In Community

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 NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/Chapter Markers00:00 – Welcome Back: Continuing the Conversation on Depression04:15 – Sometimes the Most Spiritual Thing You Can Do Is Rest07:15 – The Ministry of Presence12:30 – Asking for Help When You Can’t Muscle Through17:20 – Getting Out of the Cave and Changing the Routine22:20 – From Avoidance to Purposeful Action27:30 – You’re Not Too Far Gone

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 NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/Chapter Markers00:00 Why men say “I’m good” when they’re not03:07 Why guys struggle to name what they’re feeling04:52 Pastor Chris shares his 2016 burn injury and dark season12:28 Why men resist calling it depression17:36 Elijah’s collapse after victory in 1 Kings 1922:12 Physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual causes36:22 Get help, say it out loud, and move toward healing

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 NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

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 NotesGet Todd’s Book Here: https://a.co/d/0gBNeSGfFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

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 NotesGet Todd’s Book Here: https://a.co/d/0gBNeSGfFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

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 NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/

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 NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore 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.Show NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore 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.  Show NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore 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. Show Notes:Follow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/