DBC Students

Week 2 of the "Grave Robber" message series, centers on the theme that "No one is too far gone" and "Jesus makes the impossible possible." Derrick Milner begins by sharing a personal anecdote about reluctantly trying and ultimately enjoying long-distance running, stressing that new or difficult things (like sharing faith) require a "whatever it takes" mindset. The core of the message reviews the biblical account from Mark chapter 5, detailing two miracles performed by Jesus concurrently: first, healing a desperate woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years simply by her touching his robe, and second, raising the twelve-year-old daughter of the synagogue leader, Jairus, from the dead. In both cases—the marginalized, isolated woman and the prominent official’s daughter who was deemed "too far gone" after she died—Jesus demonstrated that both the miraculous is achievable and that no person is beyond His help or salvation, encouraging students to embrace this truth and share the love of Jesus with others, regardless of perceived hopelessness.

In Week 1 of "The Grave Robber" message series, speaker Derrick Milner introduced the theme of Jesus making the impossible possible by focusing on his power to resurrect the dead, a concept that seems unbelievable outside of movies. Milner highlighted that everyone experiences seemingly impossible situations in life, from sports comebacks to difficult family issues, and emphasized that the Bible proves that with God, all things are possible, ultimately pointing to Jesus's own resurrection. Using the story from Luke 7 where Jesus raises a widow's only son from the dead, he demonstrated Jesus's compassion and ability to save not only physical life but also eternity from a truly desperate situation. The central message for the students was to draw closer to Jesus through prayer and a personal relationship, assuring them that the closer they are to him, the more they will witness him step into their own "impossible" struggles, like family problems or isolation, and bring hope and restoration.

In the final part of the series on "fake faith," Brian Smith clarifies that having doubts or struggles does not make one's faith fake. He also warned against "fake friends" who might pull people away from God's plan for their lives.

Brian then brought up his son, Jude Smith, to speak. Jude took the stage and began by posing the question, "What is fake faith?" He shared a story about the biblical account of Jesus cursing the fig tree, explaining that the fig tree and the temple were both outwardly impressive but inwardly corrupt, a parallel he drew to fake faith. Jude concluded by asking the audience to consider whether their own faith was real or fake and then prayed for them. Brian returned to praise Jude's talk and reaffirmed the importance of having a genuine, fruitful faith, encouraging students to consider baptism and to take on opportunities to share the Gospel themselves.

In Week 2 of the series, "Fake," Brian Smith discusses the dangers of being "fake," both in one's faith and friendships. He shares a personal story from his youth to illustrate how a desire to fit in made him pretend to be someone he wasn't, and then uses the biblical story of Rehoboam to warn against the dangers of fake friends, who can cause one to "forfeit the future God has for them." He concludes by offering characteristics of both fake and true friends, urging the audience to choose friendships that align with God's will and encourage personal growth.

In Week 1 of "Fake," speaker Brian Smith addresses middle schoolers about the dangers of living inauthentically, particularly concerning their faith. He begins by distinguishing between genuine struggles—like having doubts or facing temptations—and being "fake." He emphasizes that having doubts about God or struggling with sin, as even the Apostle Paul and Jesus's own disciples did, does not mean a person is a fake Christian. Real faith, he says, acknowledges these struggles openly.

In contrast, Brian defines "fake faith" as being "double-minded" or "two-faced." He uses an example from the Bible of Jewish exorcists who tried to use Jesus's name to cast out demons without having a genuine relationship with Him. The sermon explains that the demons recognized Jesus and Paul, but not them, leading to their defeat. This story, according to Smith, illustrates the central message: fake faith has no real power or hope. He encourages his listeners to be honest about their doubts and struggles rather than putting on a "church mask," urging them to seek a sincere, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which he says is the only source of true hope and power.

During Week 3 of the series "Stoopid," Derrick Milner discusses wisdom from the book of Proverbs, highlighting that wisdom is understanding and following God's will. He explains that while King Solomon, the author of Proverbs, was the wisest man to ever live, he still made bad decisions when he ignored God. Milner then reviews the previous two weeks of the series, reminding the audience that "dumb friends are dangerous" and can lead to trouble, and that everyone is searching for something, whether it's more of God or material things. He emphasizes that only God can provide true, lasting satisfaction.

Milner then shifts to the main topic for the night: dating and relationships. He explains that humans were not designed to be alone and were made for relationships, both in dating and friendships. He shares a personal story about calling his friends during a difficult time, highlighting the importance of having a strong support system. He then warns against "want-based" relationships, which treat people like objects, and encourages the audience to instead focus on finding what they truly need in a partner: character and faith. He concludes by urging the audience to seek advice from people who have succeeded in their relationships, not just their peers, and to find out what they need in all aspects of life by talking to those who have a successful relationship with Jesus.

In Week Two of a series called "Stoopid," speaker Derrick Milner emphasizes the importance of seeking wisdom from God and making Him the top priority in our lives. He begins by referencing the book of Proverbs, written by the wise King Solomon, which offers practical advice and wisdom. Last week, Milner discussed how "dumb friends are dangerous" and how we can either lead our friends toward better decisions or choose to leave those friendships, as Proverbs 13:20 warns that "a companion of fools suffers harm."

Milner then provides examples from Proverbs, cautioning against a "big mouth" that leads to gossip and trouble, as well as laziness, which Proverbs 6:9-11 says leads to poverty. He shares a personal anecdote about struggling to wake up early, acknowledging how easy it is to fall into lazy habits. He stresses that while small actions like sleeping in aren't inherently bad, if they become a daily habit, they can lead to negative consequences. Milner introduces the central theme of his message from Proverbs 11:27: "The one who searches for what is good seeks favor, but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him." He explains that everyone is searching for something, whether it be a thing, a person, or a place. However, the order of our priorities matters.

Milner uses the story of Ananias and his wife from the book of Acts to illustrate this point. The couple, who sold a piece of land, kept a portion of the money for themselves, and lied about it to the apostles, were struck dead by God. Milner explains that it wasn't the act of keeping the money that was the problem, but their lack of trust in God. They prioritized themselves first and God second. Milner concludes by highlighting Matthew 6:33, which says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you." He challenges the audience to search for God through prayer, studying the Bible, and obedience, such as through baptism and evangelism. He states that if we don't put God first, we might as well be putting him last because nothing else will truly matter.

In Week 1 of the series, "Stoopid," Derrick Milner explains that the purpose of the series is to remind students of the importance of wisdom as they begin the new school year.

Milner defines wisdom as understanding God's will and shares a passage from the Book of Proverbs, noting that wisdom is more valuable than any material possession, such as silver or gold. He warns that a lack of wisdom can lead to a cycle of bad decisions that may seem small at first but can have life-altering consequences.

Milner emphasizes that a key area for applying wisdom is in choosing friendships. He states that "dumb friends are dangerous" because they can lead people to make poor decisions that result in real harm. To illustrate this point, he shares two personal stories about making poor choices under the influence of friends: one involves a foolish text message that caused emotional distress, and the other describes a painful experience eating a hot habanero pepper in Mexico. He then tells a more somber story about a high school graduate who died after a foolish stunt with his friends, underscoring the severe consequences of unwise choices.

Milner concludes by advising students to either lead their friendships toward God-honoring decisions or leave them, as a companion of fools will ultimately suffer harm. He encourages them to choose their friends wisely to avoid a cycle of poor decisions and live a better, happier life.

Student Pastor Brian Smith delivered a crucial message to students about the dangers of temptation as they head back to school, especially after the "warm fuzzies" of camp experiences. He emphasized that real life brings trials and temptations, and while trials are unavoidable, the key is how we respond to temptations. Drawing from the Book of James, specifically James 1:12-15, he explained that while enduring trials is a blessing, succumbing to temptation leads to sin and ultimately, "death" or ruin. He defined temptation as any desire to do something you know is ultimately bad for you, regardless of its perceived size, using personal anecdotes like his struggle with anger to illustrate how even "small" temptations can have significant consequences.

Pastor Brian then delved into the enemy's "game plan" for temptation as seen in Matthew chapter 4, where Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. He highlighted three main strategies: satisfying physical needs outside of God's design, feeding one's ego instead of their soul, and allowing anyone or anything other than God to lead you. Jesus's responses, rooted in scripture, provide a blueprint for resistance. Finally, the pastor shifted from resistance to a more effective strategy found in 2 Timothy 2:22: fleeing from youthful temptations. He stressed that the goal isn't to be strong enough to resist, but wise enough to run away from what is harmful and to actively pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. He encouraged students not to face these battles alone but to seek support from friends and leaders, running together towards God and away from temptations that can derail their future.

Derrick Milner's Week 4 message in the "Distracted" series encourages students to gently restore peers who are "messing up." He emphasizes that people often carry unseen burdens leading them to make poor choices, and rather than judging or shaming, followers of Jesus should offer support and understanding. Milner illustrates this point with a personal anecdote about a former student, Tolu, who, despite his leadership potential, was consistently led astray by negative influences. Milner expressed his frustration at the time but highlights Tolu's eventual transformation into a student pastor, showcasing the importance of continued care and guidance.

Milner references Galatians 5 and 6, where Paul warns against the "works of the flesh" and instructs believers to restore those who err with a "gentle spirit," while also "carrying one another's burdens." He stresses that true friendship involves not only pointing out flaws but also actively helping and encouraging individuals through their struggles, likening it to Jesus's varied approaches to rebuke. Milner concludes by highlighting that this restorative approach is central to discipleship, urging students to be a light in the world by showing love and support to those around them.