Podcast Summary: "Seek God First | Vision 2025"

Podcast: Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel
Host: Jentezen Franklin
Guest: Zach McLeroy (Co-founder and former CEO of Zaxby’s)
Date: December 1, 2025

Main Theme

This episode centers on the importance of putting God first, particularly around Vision 2025 for the church and its members. Jentezen Franklin interviews Zach McLeroy, co-founder of Zaxby’s, about his journey in business, faith, and generosity. The message encourages listeners to prioritize spiritual values, trust God through times of challenge, and understand the impact of vision, tithing, and gratitude on success.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction and Guest Background (00:01–02:33)

• Jentezen Franklin introduces Zach McLeroy, highlighting his decades-long involvement with Free Chapel and his role in the growth of Zaxby’s.
• Zach’s family is present; acknowledgment is given to his parents and children.
• Main theme set: sharing stories of church-connected people who exemplify living out faith.

2. Zach McLeroy’s Entrepreneurial Journey (03:06–04:52)

• Zach started working in restaurants as necessity in teens; saw it as an avenue to fund studies and living expenses.
• Only after college did he realize his true passion for hospitality and entrepreneurship.
• Memorable origin story:

  “The one thing that has any value to me is my drum set. So I sold that for $8,000. My partner matched it with $8,000. We opened our very first store for $16,000.”
  (Zach, 04:20–04:49)

• The first Zaxby’s opened in Statesboro, Georgia, near Georgia Southern College.

3. Faith, Setbacks, and Resilience (05:26–07:00)

• The journey included learning most from failures—failed locations, underperforming sites, challenges with partners.
• Key quote:

  “I don't think you can truly enjoy or understand success unless you understand failure. You need both to really appreciate the success you have.”
  (Zach, 06:42–06:58)

4. Building the Business, Stewardship, and Tithing (07:00–11:39)

• Zach and his partner ran the business for 10 years, reinvesting all profits, living on $10 per hour, and growing out of cash flow—not large loans.
• By the end of 10 years: 20 company stores, 80 franchises. Success accelerated after that, leading to nearly 1,000 stores.
• Recognition: Forbes 500 list, but Zach remained private and humble about it.
• Zach credits tithing early in the business for a "chain reaction" of blessing:

  “I wholeheartedly believed that because I tithed early in the business, it impacted. It set off a chain reaction across the entire business. And it helped us to attract the right people, and it helped to repel the wrong people.”
  (Zach, 10:11–10:46)

• Focus on creating a family-like, uplifting company culture.

5. Personal Practice: Handwritten Giving (12:47–14:11)

• Despite modern electronic giving, Zach prefers to write out physical checks for his tithes and offerings.
• Purposeful ritual:

  “When I write these checks, it’s just a reminder of the blessing and the gratitude I have for what God’s done”
  (Zach, 13:52–14:06)

6. Advice for Young People and Entrepreneurs (14:54–22:03)

• Zach urges aspiring businesspeople to focus on the right values—honoring God and building up people—not just profit.
• Warns culture/company ethos can change after major deals.
• He reflects: many sit in church with dreams; don't let fear of loss outweigh hope of gain.
• On overcoming fear:

  “There are two great motivators in life: it’s the fear of loss or it's the hope of gain… Don't be naive, though. To go into business, you're going to have some failures…”
  (Zach, 15:39–16:06)

• On calling and tithing:

  “The ultimate way you prove to the Lord that you trust him is when you give him your money. You’re giving in the physical, but you really… get a deposit into the spiritual.”
  (Zach, 21:01–21:17)

7. Sermon: Seek God First (22:13–38:40)

• Jentezen transitions into a sermon echoing Zach’s story with Matthew 6:33:

  "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and these things… will be added unto you."
  (Jentezen, 23:16–23:27)

• Emphasizes releasing worries to God and valuing Christ above all status or possessions.
• Shares the parables of the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44–46).
• Condemns casual Christianity; true followers “give up anything to know Jesus.”

8. The Danger of Materialism & Riches Without God (28:55–34:50)

• Retells the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13–21) who stored up wealth but was not “rich toward God.”
• Emphasizes:

  “The goal of every person listening to me should be: I want to be rich toward God.”
  (Jentezen, 34:10–34:20)

9. Story of Hollywood Producer’s Conversion (38:40–41:30)

• Jentezen tells of a famous, wealthy Hollywood producer who found Christ through watching Free Chapel online, illustrating that spiritual emptiness exists at all levels of material success.

10. Closing Challenge: Vision, Trust, Generosity (41:30–45:30)

• Calls listeners to get a vision, trust God for provision, and honor Him with their resources no matter their career.
• Cites testimonies of God erasing debts for individuals and the church as evidence of seeking God first.

11. Practical Encouragement & Prayer (44:38–end)

• Practical advice for young people: consider trades if college is not the path, trust God to make a way.
• Collective prayer committing to put God first in dreams, calling, and resources.
• Concludes with an encouragement to honor God and expect His blessing.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On finding passion from necessity:

  “I found a passion for what was a necessity, and I said, I want to build a career in hospitality. That’s when I decided, I'm going to step out, take a leap of faith…”
  (Zach, 03:40)

• On overcoming setbacks:

  “It wasn't the time we opened our hundredth store or we had a great franchise agreement. It's when … you learn to overcome those things. They're going to happen.” (Zach, 06:34)

• On tithing as transformative:

  “Because I tithed early in the business, it impacted… and it helped us to attract the right people, and it helped to repel the wrong people.”
  (Zach, 10:20)

• On handwritten giving:

  “I do this for me because it reminds me of what the Lord did for me… how he blesses my life each and every day.”
  (Zach, 13:38)

• On dreaming and risk:

  “The thing to figure out is what it is you really want to do. And you’ve got to know it from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. And you also have to know why you want to do it. I think once you figure out what it is you want to do and why … the how comes.”
  (Zach, 16:51)

• On putting God first:

  “There’s no such thing as two firsts… And Jesus says, I only occupy first place.” (Jentezen, 42:36)

• On tithing’s eternal value:

  “When you tithe, you’ve given in the physical… What you just did, you just opened up heaven… as much as you gave to the church, went to heaven. And where it went is to HB&T—the Heavenly Bank and Trust Company.”
  (Zach, 20:00–20:44)

• On God’s provision:

  “If you’ll seek him first, he’ll handle your debt.”
  (Jentezen, 43:33)

• Practical encouragement:

  “Find a trade, and God can bless the work of your hands. I don’t care if you think this is unspiritual. It’s very spiritual. When you don’t have resources, it’s very spiritual.” (Jentezen, 45:16)

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:01–02:33| Welcome and introduction of Zach McLeroy | | 03:06–04:52| Zach’s start: selling his drum set, launching Zaxby’s | | 05:26–07:00| Lessons from failure, the value of setbacks | | 07:32–09:37| Early business growth and financial discipline | | 10:11–11:39| Tithing’s impact on company culture, attracting right people| | 12:47–14:11| Significance of handwritten tithing and gratitude | | 14:54–22:03| Advice for young entrepreneurs, success and spiritual trust | | 22:13–27:00| Sermon: seeking God’s kingdom above all | | 28:55–34:50| Parable of the rich fool, being “rich toward God” | | 38:40–41:30| Testimony: Famous producer’s conversion | | 41:30–45:38| Practical encouragement, prayer for vision and dreams |

Tone & Style

The conversation throughout is personal, humble, and faith-filled. Zach is soft-spoken, honest about struggles, and always gives credit to God. Jentezen preaches with conviction, warmth, and a focus on practical spiritual application. Together, they model gratitude, generosity, and a life of vision rooted in seeking God first.

Recap for Listeners

This episode is a powerful blend of testimony and preaching, urging listeners to prioritize God in every area—career, finances, ambitions. Zach McLeroy’s story of entrepreneurship is evidence that risk, stewardship, tithing, and gratitude draw God’s favor. Jentezen Franklin reinforces that spiritual vision surpasses material gain and that seeking God first secures provision and purpose in all of life.

Main takeaway:
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)