Musnad Ahmad 1018:47

Muhammad ibn Ja‘far narrated to us, Shu‘bah narrated to us, from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Maysarah, from Kardus, who said: He used to tell stories (give sermons), and he said: A man from the people of Badr narrated to us, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that he said: "For me to sit in a gathering like this is more beloved to me than to free four slaves," meaning: the telling of stories (sermons).