The Christian Approach to Leading with Love

• September 2, 2025
• By Brian Lettieri

The Christian Approach to Leading with Love

In the modern world, leadership is often defined by a language of metrics, results, and relentless strength. It’s about bottom lines, strategic goals, and decisive action. In this context, the concept of love can feel out of place – too soft, too vulnerable, perhaps even unprofessional. 

It’s a sentiment reserved for personal life, kept separate from the boardroom or the front lines of ministry. But what if this perception is fundamentally flawed? What if, for a follower of Christ, love isn’t just an optional add-on to leadership but its entire foundation? 

What if the most powerful, effective, and transformative leadership model isn’t found in a business seminar but in the simple, profound encounters of Jesus? This is the Christian approach to leading with love: a radical reorientation that places relationship at the very center of influence, challenging us to lead not just with our skills, but with our whole hearts.

The Divine Blueprint: Jesus’s Encounter with the Rich Young Man

To understand this divine model of love and leadership, we need look no further than the dusty road described in the Gospel of Mark. Here, we witness a powerful, raw, and deeply human interaction that reveals everything about how Christ leads.

“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

“Teacher,” he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this, the man’s face fell.  He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

– (Mark 10:17-22 NIV)

Take a moment to truly sit with that scene. Notice what Jesus doesn’t do. He doesn’t initiate. He doesn’t seek out this successful young man to tell him what he’s doing wrong. Instead, He creates a space where the man feels safe enough to bring his deepest question forward.

And then comes the pivotal moment, the heart of the entire exchange: “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” This love comes first. It isn’t a reward for the man’s good behavior or a prize for accepting the challenge to come. 

Jesus sees him completely- his earnestness, his accomplishments, his hidden attachment to wealth, his spiritual lack, and He loves him right there, as he is. This is the blueprint for Christian leadership with love. It is a leadership that sees people before it sees problems. It loves before it corrects. 

It offers a challenging invitation rooted in profound acceptance, but it never forces an outcome. Jesus honored the man’s free will, even when it led him to walk away in sorrow. He attached Himself to the person, not the result. This practice of seeing and loving first is something we can cultivate.

Leading from a Place of Love, Not Perfection

Jesus’s example is perfect, but we are not. This is precisely where the power of Christian leadership lies. We aren’t called to be flawless saviors who have it all together. We are called to be imperfect leaders who point to a perfect Savior.

Accepting our own flaws and our complete dependence on God’s grace is what equips us to lead others with that same grace. When we understand that we are loved in our own mess, it frees us from the pressure to fix everyone around us. 

Our role is not to demand perfection but to create sanctuaries of grace where people feel safe enough to be human – to struggle, to question, and to grow. True Christian leadership doesn’t say, “Follow me because I have it all figured out.” It says, “Come, let’s follow Him together.”

Cultivating a Community of Grace: 8 Practices for Leading with Love

So, what does this leading with love look like in our daily interactions? It’s not a vague feeling but a series of intentional, prayerful practices. By filtering modern leadership advice through the lens of Mark 10, we can cultivate a community of grace wherever God has placed us. We can:

• Speak Life and Hope – In a world that often criticizes, your words can be a wellspring of encouragement. When you see someone struggling, offer a kind word that reminds them of their identity in Christ.
• Extend Grace and Maintain Healthy Boundaries – Be understanding when people are overwhelmed, offering flexibility when possible. This doesn’t mean lowering standards, but rather upholding them with a spirit of compassion and support.
• Create a Sacred Space for Listening – A leader who only barks orders creates an environment of fear. A leader who listens fosters innovation, trust, and value. Make space to truly hear the hearts and concerns of your team.
• Foster Trust Through Honest Connection – Intimidation builds walls, while authentic communication builds bridges. Create a safe space where people feel they can share their challenges without fear of judgment.
• Offer Guidance with Grace – When someone falls short, the goal isn’t to criticize but to restore. Approach conversations from a ‘help me help you’ posture, offering training and support as a reflection of Jesus’s direct but loving challenge.
• Bear One Another’s Burdens – When a person trusts you enough to share that they are overwhelmed, you have been given a sacred opportunity. Ask how you can help, and in a faith-based environment, never underestimate the power of praying for and with them.
• Inquire with Intentionality and Care – Ask, “How are you doing?” and mean it. Pause and truly listen to the answer. People know when you care about them as individuals, not just as instruments for achieving a goal.

Your Calling to Lead: Embodying Love On and Off the Mat

This call to lead with love is a high and holy one, and it requires practice. It requires cultivating the patience, empathy, and presence that allow us to respond like Christ. The yoga mat can be a powerful training ground for this very work. It is where we practice being still, listening to our bodies, and surrendering to God’s loving presence – the very skills needed to lead others well.

If you feel a stirring in your spirit to embody this form of leadership, to create spaces of healing and grace in your community, we invite you to take the next step. Our instructor training programs are designed not just to teach yoga, but to disciple leaders who reflect the heart of Christ. We offer:

• 100-Hour Holy Yoga Teacher Training: For instructors ready to infuse their existing leadership with the deep, transformative principles of Christ-centered yoga and ministry.
• 200-Hour Holy Yoga Teacher Training: The foundational discipleship journey for anyone, from beginners to experienced yogis, who feels the call to lead and wants to build their life and practice on a Christ-centered foundation.
• 300-Hour Holy Yoga Master’s Training: The advanced path for seasoned leaders seeking to deepen their theological understanding, expand their ministry, and integrate their faith into every aspect of their leadership.

Whatever your next step may be, remember the blueprint: see, love, and then lead. This is the way of Jesus, and it has the power to transform the world.