DBC Students

In a recap of 2025 Student mission trips, Derrick Milner highlighted two impactful experiences: a middle school trip to Venice, Florida, and two high school trips to Guatemala. Derrick described the two-and-a-half-week mission to Venice, Florida, where middle schoolers put on a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for a Hungarian church. He admitted to initial anxiety due to uncertainty about attendance, w...

In his sermon, Intern Zach Milner discusses the concept of  unshakable faith , drawing parallels between the biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and contemporary society. He begins by recounting how King Nebuchadnezzar commanded everyone to bow down to a golden idol, with the penalty of being thrown into a blazing furnace for disobedience. While thousands conformed, Shadrach, Meshach...

In Week 2 of "Distracted", Intern Zach Milner emphasizes the critical difference between a  "counterfeit gospel"  and the  true gospel , which offers an  abundant life  through Jesus Christ. He explains that while many people try to earn God's love and salvation through good deeds or religious practices, this leads to an empty, counterfeit life. This mirrors the early churc...

In week one of the sermon series, "Distracted," Creative and Communications Director, Jonathan Talbert, emphasizes how easily we can get sidetracked from our primary goal as Christians: to glorify God and bring others to His kingdom. He explains that distractions, whether from phones, school, friends, video games, or even our own minds, lead to "destructive mistakes." Drawing a...

The second week of a series called "Breakout," which focuses on dealing with  stress . He explains that this is a recurring series because stress is a constant in everyone's daily lives. Milner emphasizes that everyone experiences stress, from small irritations to major life challenges. He reminds the audience of the previous week's lesson: to  cast our cares on God  because He c...

Summer and Stress Derrick Milner welcomes everyone to their summer gathering, which will continue until August 6th, and introduces a new two-week series called "Breakout." He explains that the summer schedule is hectic with multiple mission trips planned, including one for middle schoolers, one for high schoolers, and another high school trip to Guatemala. Due to these commitments, and t...

Derrick Milner encourages the Students to fully engage in worship, setting aside distractions to focus on Jesus. He emphasizes that salvation belongs to God alone and highlights God's love and provision, urging everyone to truly believe in God's ability to provide, regardless of past mistakes. Milner then leads the group in prayer, first for personal forgiveness and drawing closer to God,...

In Week 3 of, "We Are The Church," Student Pastor Brian Smith challenges the middle schoolers to shift their understanding of faith from performance-based to pursuit-based. He begins by acknowledging an unexpected change in his sermon schedule, leading him to deliver a message he considers "desperately important" for students to grasp. He highlights that many common ideas about being a Christian a...

In week 2 of their series, "We Are the Church," Student Pastor Brian Smith focuses on the book of Philippians. He briefly recapped the previous week's message, emphasizing that they were created as citizens of heaven, entitled to its benefits now, and called to join its mission of bringing others to know God. Pastor Brian then explained that the idea of "church" often defaults to a building, but t...

Student Pastor Brian Smith began his message to the middle schoolers by expressing his excitement to spend the month with them before his family's five-week road trip, humorously asking for bets on whether they'd end up loving or hating each other more by the trip's end. He then shared an amusing anecdote about his twins, particularly Finn's overprotective nature towards their sister Evy, expressi...

Derrick Milner begins by acknowledging a special occasion as it marks the final sendoff for Allen Jackson, their senior pastor who recently retired but remains a valued member of the church. Before Allen speaks, the Derrick leads the student ministry in prayer for him, acknowledging his ongoing battle with cancer and the challenges it presents. Derrick emphasizes the importance of prayer and seeks...

Derrick Milner recaps the previous week's discussion from the "Words from the Cross" series, focusing on Jesus' interaction with the two criminals crucified alongside him. He contrasted the criminal who reacted with mockery to the one who responded with faith, highlighting that a true relationship with Jesus requires responding to who He is, not just reacting to circumstances. The focus shifts to...

Associate Director of Students, Derrick Milner, begins by welcoming middle school students back after some had been on spring break, expressing how much they were missed. A new, two-week sermon series titled "Words from the Cross" is introduced, leading up to and slightly past Easter. This series will focus on some of the seven significant statements Jesus made while on the cross. To ill...

Derrick Milner, Associate Director of Students, introduces the final week of a series called "The Room Where it Happened," which focuses on the Holy Spirit, not the musical "Hamilton." He recaps the previous weeks' discussions about the Holy Spirit's arrival, emphasizing that it's a gift from God, not earned through actions. The Holy Spirit is described as God dwell...

In week 2 of, "The Room Where It Happened," Derrick Milner, Associate Director of Students, specifically focuses on the concept of the Holy Spirit and its impact on believers' lives. Derrick revisits the idea of personal transformative moments, emphasizing that these experiences are unique to each individual. He recounts the biblical story of Pentecost in Acts 2, where the disciples...

Beginning a new series focusing on the Holy Spirit which is built upon a previous series by senior pastor Allen Jackson. The speaker aims to simplify the concept of the Holy Spirit for students, acknowledging that some of Jackson's teachings can be difficult to grasp. The series, titled "The Room Where It Happened," is not related to the musical "Hamilton," despite the spea...

The message centers around the idea that many people struggle with fundamental questions about belonging, purpose, and God's will, and these questions can only be answered through God's Word. The Student Pastor, Brian Smith, uses the analogy of a middle school lunchroom to illustrate how people often try to fit in by changing themselves to match a desired group, a concept he calls "lunchroom logic...

The WKND 2025 Testimonials And Highlights: Associate Director of Students, Derrick Milner, recounts a successful weekend event filled with activities like manhunt and impactful worship sessions led by Erika and the band. They emphasize Erika's dedication and the band's talent. They announce that students will be leading worship at the upcoming church service and encourage everyone to sit i...

Session 4 of The WKND 2025: Student Pastor, Brian Smith, begins by highlighting a successful student ministry weekend and expressing gratitude for the church's support. He then transitions to the core message, emphasizing that after physical rebuilding, the Israelites recognized their spiritual need for God's Word. Brian recounts how the Israelites, led by Ezra, gathered to hear the readin...

Session 3 of The WKND 2025: Associate Director of Students, Derrick Milner, begins by acknowledging the emotional impact of the week, highlighting stories of transformation and emphasizing that God's work is ongoing. He then transitions to a personal anecdote about his changing perception of thunderstorms, using it as a metaphor for life's challenges. He recounts a childhood experience of...

Session 2 of The WKND 2025: Associate Director of Students, Derrick Milner, opens by acknowledging the students' tiredness and encourages them to stay awake, emphasizing the importance of seizing every opportunity to connect with God. He prays for God to speak to the students' hearts, especially those new to the church or the event. Derrick then transitions to the core message: the feeling...

Session 1 of The WKND 2025: Student Pastor, Brian Smith, emphasizes that the fundamental questions people have about their purpose and value can only be answered through a relationship with God. He highlights the concept of sin as a barrier between humans and God, explaining that it's an inherited condition that separates people from their true purpose and identity. The central message is that...

The continuation of "Real Mature" series, which explores Jesus's adolescence, specifically focusing on Luke 2:52, where Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people. The previous sessions covered growing in favor with God and wisdom, highlighting the choice between righteous and wicked paths and the value of seeking wisdom through God's word and wise companionship...

Student Pastor Brian Smith begins by explaining a new series titled "Real Mature," referencing a phrase commonly used to admonish misbehavior. He poses the question of what Jesus was like as a middle schooler, highlighting the limited information available but focusing on a specific story from Luke 2:41-52. This story recounts Jesus's parents' anxiety upon discovering his absence...

Student Pastor, Brian Smith, and Associate Director of Students, Derrick Milner, interviews Trish Johnson Bailey, the wife of their close friend Flip, who recently passed away. Brian and Derrick explain that the evening's focus will be on Trish's experience with faith amidst deep suffering. Trish shares her story of coming to faith later in life after a superficial early experience, and how her hu...