Podcast Summary: GrowLeader Podcast with Chris Hodges

Episode 87 | The Legacy Life: Building What Outlives You (David Green & Bill High)
Date: November 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking episode, Pastor Chris Hodges sits down with David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, and legacy expert Bill High to discuss living and leading with a mindset of legacy. Drawing upon their new book, "The Legacy Life: Embracing God's Design for Generational Impact," the conversation focuses on building families, businesses, and ministries that outlive us by embracing God-centered stewardship, multigenerational teams, generosity, and practical legacy practices. Listeners—whether pastors, business leaders, parents, or anyone striving for eternal impact—receive actionable wisdom to start building what lasts for generations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legacy vs. Success: Shifting from Temporal to Eternal Impact

• Difference Between Success and Legacy:
  The episode challenges listeners to aim beyond short-term success or personal achievement and instead focus on building something that impacts eternity.
• "Legacy is not just what you leave behind—it’s what you set in motion for heaven." – Bill High (19:36)

2. Stewardship: God Owns, We Steward

• Hobby Lobby’s Philanthropic Approach:
  David Green explains the family’s philosophy of giving 50% of Hobby Lobby’s profits away each year (04:20), motivated by the conviction that God owns everything, not just 10%.

  “We don’t see Hobby Lobby as ours. Not because we say so, but because God says so...God owns everything.” – David Green (04:20)

• Critique of Traditional Teaching:
  David argues that pastors should teach total stewardship, not just tithing, pointing listeners to biblical ownership (16:38):

  “They teach tithing, and that’s not what belongs to God. It all belongs to God. God says in Psalms 24 and one that everything belongs to Him. So we’re all stewards. We’re not owners.” – David Green (16:46)

• Practical Filters for Giving:
  The Greens use two filters:
  1. The cause must align with God’s Word.
  2. The investment has eternal impact (not just social or temporal good).

  “Our filter is we want to make sure that we’re doing two things. It has to be God’s word and it has to also be eternal life...if I really love you, I care where you’re going to spend eternity.” – David Green (06:12)

3. Redefining Family and Leadership: From Individuals to Teams

• The Theology of the Family as a Team:
  Bill High advocates resisting hyper-individualism and reframing families (and churches) as unified teams with a shared purpose:

  “We’re trying to reset the theology of family...families are meant to be a team and not just raising a bunch of individuals. That idea of the team is the same concept of the church.” – Bill High (10:46)

• Tangible Legacy Practices:
  • Mission, Vision, Values: Families are encouraged to draft a simple document outlining these, revisited at annual “celebrations,” echoing Deuteronomy 6 (23:36, 25:06).
  • Celebrations and Rituals:

    “There are seven celebrations in the Bible, and it’s that time where you come back together and remind yourself, what has God done for us?...Those are a couple simple little tools that any family can undertake.” – Bill High (26:41)

4. Practical Steps to Establishing a Family Legacy

• Start with God’s Word:
  The “starting spot” is recognizing God’s ownership and letting Scripture frame family culture and resource handling (18:34).
• Storytelling as a Legacy Tool:
  Chris Hodges reflects on his new responsibility as “chief storyteller” for his grandchildren, inspired by listening to David and Bill (26:41–28:01).

  “What are the ten stories your children need to know?” – Bill High (27:34)

• Mission Statements for Families:

  “We put together a document...Once a year, we come together...I don’t want us to be about Hobby Lobby. I want us to be about following the Lord and seeing what He has for us.” – David Green (23:36)

• Examples of Generational Impact:
  David’s family has grown from three to 51—including eight adopted children—and many are involved in ministry, Bible translation, and adoption (22:10, 25:06).

5. Notable Legacy Stories (Humor & Humanity included!)

• David Green’s Humble Beginnings:
  David shares a self-deprecating story about being at the bottom of the “food chain” in junior high and how setbacks and imperfections shape legacy (28:23–30:51).
• Marital (Theological) Tension:
  Lighthearted moment as David jokes about “Baptist vs. Pentecostal” differences with his wife of 65 years:

  “I married a Baptist and it’s really created a lot of problems between us because I have tried for 65 years to get her saved again and she refuses...But I’m Pentecostal and I get saved every Sunday night, every Wednesday night, every Sunday morning. My wife says that’s not enough.” – David Green (31:21–31:57)

6. Moving from Concept to Action

• Advice for Listeners:
  • Implement a family mission/vision/values document.
  • Practice regular family celebrations/storytelling sessions.
  • Shift mindset from ownership to stewardship—begin by surrendering “ownership” of time, talent, and treasure to God.
  • Pastors: Teach total stewardship and create a church culture with a Kingdom legacy mindset.
  • Parents: Focus on generational discipleship—your greatest legacy may be what you set in motion, not just what you achieve.

Memorable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 04:20 | David Green | “God owns everything. If He owns it, then we’re stewards. So we see ourselves as stewards of what God owns.” | | 16:46 | David Green | “It’s kind of because of the pastors. They teach tithing, and that’s not what belongs to God. It all belongs to God.” | | 19:36 | Bill High | “The most transformative day in a person’s life is when they give up ownership.” | | 25:06 | Bill High | “It’s really based on Deuteronomy 6...post it on the door frames of your house. Publish it so everybody can see.” | | 27:34 | Bill High | “What are the 10 stories that your children need to know?” | | 31:21 | David Green | “I married a Baptist and it’s really created a lot of problems between us because I have tried for 65 years to get her saved again and she refuses.” |

Important Timestamps

• 02:32 – David Green on investing in organizations God is blessing
• 04:20 – Philosophy of giving and stewardship at Hobby Lobby
• 06:12–07:40 – The two-part filter for giving: God’s Word and eternity
• 13:40 – Launch into “legacy mindset” discussion
• 16:38–19:36 – On why stewardship is rare: Pastoral responsibility and the power of teaching
• 21:27–23:36 – David Green’s 3 (& now expanded) family goals for legacy
• 23:36–25:06 – Bill High and David Green on annual family legacy practices
• 26:41–28:01 – The power of storytelling in strengthening legacy
• 31:21–32:10 – Humor around marriage, denominational differences, and unity

Conclusion & Call to Action

The episode calls leaders in every sphere to reframe their legacy as “setting something in motion” that will endure for generations and echo in eternity. By embracing total stewardship, establishing family (or organizational) mission, vision, and values, practicing godly storytelling, and focusing on eternal impact, everyone—business leaders, pastors, and parents—can live a legacy life.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Legacy Life: Embracing God’s Design for Generational Impact (David Green & Bill High)
• Illuminations Project (Bible translation for every language by 2035)

Final Words:

“Be faithful right where you’re at.” – Bill High (33:21)

This summary gives you the heart, humor, and actionable wisdom of the episode—without the need to listen in full.