WHAT IS THE SHEMA?
The Shema prayer is a powerful, ancient Jewish prayer that calls believers to full-hearted devotion to God. The word “Shema” comes from the Hebrew word for “hear” or “listen,” and it is the first word of Deuteronomy 6:4 which is where the rest of the Shema can be found .
Want to dive deeper into the Shema? Download this free PDF and meditate on its powerful call to devotion and discipleship in your daily life.
What is the Shema in English?
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”
What is the Shema in Hebrew?
“Shema Israel, Adonai elohenu-Adonai echad
Ve’ahavta et Adonai eloeikah, b’khol levavkah, uve’khol napshekah, uve’khol me’odekah.”
What is the importance of the Shema?
RVL Discipleship: The Study – The Shema Prayer
For generations, this prayer has been a cornerstone of Jewish faith—a pledge to God amidst cultural pressures to serve many gods. In Jesus’ time, the Shema was foundational, and today, it continues to inspire devotion and community, making it a crucial element in understanding discipleship.
Jesus Himself affirmed its importance, calling it the greatest commandment and pairing it with “Love your neighbor as yourself.” RVL unpacks the Shema Hebrew meaning to reveal its call to commitment—a reminder to be “all in” as disciples. As you hear and recite the Shema in both Hebrew and English, you’ll see how this prayer reinforces loyalty, love, and a pursuit of faith that remains as vital now as it was in ancient times.
Discover Deeper Faith with
RVL Discipleship: The Study
About Ray Vander Laan
Ray Vander Laan is a master in biblical context who, for the first time, is sharing his methods to a wider audience. Ray’s passionate style of teaching connects with students of all ages and inspired his founding of That The World May Know, a ministry focused on location-based teaching of scripture. He has personally guided thousands of people on study tours and released 18 volumes of educational content. RVL Discipleship™ is the culmination of his time in the physical steps of the Rabbi.
Purchase Options:
RVL’s teaching style brings the Bible to life with real-world insights that are rooted in deep scriptural truth, each session connects ancient wisdom with modern living. Witness how these teachings can inspire your small group to live boldly for Christ.
Season 1
Jesus’ original disciples really knew their Bible. As modern-day followers of Christ, it is vitally important that we value Scripture in the same way. Season 1 of The Study outlines how we are meant to interact with the Text.
Season 2
Discipleship was formalized with the rise of rabbis in Jewish culture, but the concept really started much earlier than that. Season 2 explores the roots of discipleship, examining how God trained and established the nation of Israel in preparation for Jesus’ ministry to come.
Season 3
What was daily life like for the Jews of Jesus’ day? Season 3 of The Study focuses on Jesus as a man, our God made flesh, who chose to reveal Himself as a first century rabbi to a first century Jewish audience.
Season 4
The fourth and final season of The Study focuses on the practical role of a rabbi’s followers in the first century, unpacking cultural and scriptural implications and applying them to our lives as modern-day followers of Jesus.
RVL Bundle
In RVL Discipleship: The Study, join Bible scholar Ray Vander Laan as he guides you from simply knowing Scripture to experiencing it as a disciple of Jesus. Through the lens of culture, history, and context, you’ll explore what it meant to be one of Jesus’ original disciples—and what that means for us today. This four-season video series invites small groups and individuals to take steps of faith, moving from learning about Christ to living like Him.
RVL Bundle
In RVL Discipleship: The Study, join Bible scholar Ray Vander Laan as he guides you from simply knowing Scripture to experiencing it as a disciple of Jesus. Through the lens of culture, history, and context, you’ll explore what it meant to be one of Jesus’ original disciples—and what that means for us today. This four-season video series invites small groups and individuals to take steps of faith, moving from learning about Christ to living like Him.
RVL Discipleship: The Study Guides
Embark on a transformative journey with our RVL Discipleship: The Study printed participant guides. These guides are your trusted companion to the video episodes as they expertly lead you through the lessons for each of the four seasons of RVL Discipleship: The Study. Within its pages, you’ll uncover thought-provoking discussion questions, and a treasure trove of tools designed to ensure that your study experience is nothing short of enriching and inspiring.
RVL Bundle
In RVL Discipleship: The Study, join Bible scholar Ray Vander Laan as he guides you from simply knowing Scripture to experiencing it as a disciple of Jesus. Through the lens of culture, history, and context, you’ll explore what it meant to be one of Jesus’ original disciples—and what that means for us today. This four-season video series invites small groups and individuals to take steps of faith, moving from learning about Christ to living like Him.
