What will the rewards for believers actually be in the kingdom?

The rewards for believers in the kingdom are responsibilities given by God, not salvation and not the crowns. At the judgment seat of Christ, fiery testing reveals what each believer built with; only gold, silver, and precious stones survive, and on that basis God assigns eternal kingdom responsibilities.

Les explains that believers are builders in their Christian life, constructing with six materials: gold, silver, and precious stones, and wood, hay, and stubble. Three withstand heat and fire; three go up in a puff of smoke. Every believer’s work will be made manifest and tested by fire at the judgment seat of Christ, not hell fire or the lake of fire. This is not a judgment for salvation, nor do believers answer for sin there, but they answer for reward. As Christ’s fiery eyes penetrate the whole Christian record, only the gold, silver, and precious stones remain. On that basis God gives reward for eternity, which Les says he thinks will be responsibilities in the kingdom, distinct from the crowns.

What will the reward for believers' surviving works be?

The reward for believers whose works survive the testing fire will be responsibilities in the kingdom. At the judgment seat of Christ, Christ's fiery eyes test each believer's record; only gold, silver, and precious stones remain. On that basis God gives eternal reward—responsibilities, not crowns.